• In post-poll developments in Karnataka, several prominent leaders have reacted to the exit poll published on Wednesday evening. Results are due May 13.

However BJP leaders continue to remain confident of clear majority. 

Several exit polls said the BJP might end up with a little less than 100 seats, as the party is looking to script history by retaining its government in the southern state, which has not re-elected a party to power since 1985. Meanwhile, the Congress also aims to make a comeback in Karnataka, which it hopes would give the party a head start ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Regional party, the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) - which played the role of king maker in 2018 - is expected to secure an average of 20 to 30 seats in a do or die battle, exit polls predicted.

Several leaders have since reacted to the exit poll predictions, with BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya saying there is nothing that suggests that the Congress will have a ‘run away win’, not in voting percentage, and not on the ground. 

Congress's Karnataka president DK Shivakumar also said he did not believe in the exit poll results, adding that they will cross the 146-seat mark.

Even though exit poll predictions are known to reflect the actual results better than the pre-poll opinion surveys, they are only meant to provide insights into what can be expected. The destiny of over 2,600 candidates lies in the sealed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and will be revealed on Saturday.