Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, May 8: As per the latest survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS-ABP News ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls, Congress is likely to beat its rivals BJP and JD(S) in a closely fought race.

The pre-poll survey which was conducted between April 27 and May 3 indicates that the Congress with a 38 percent of the vote share is ahead of the BJP. But it is still short of the half way mark by a few seats. The survey predicts 33 % vote share for BJP while the JD(S) will be a distant third with 22 percent of the votes.

But according to the survey the Congress has not gained much from the Lingayat card played by recommending religion status for the dominant community. However, though according to the survey 61 percent of the Lingayats may vote for the BJP, as much as 43% of the Lingayats support the separate religion status.

It may be recalled that the previous survey conducted by a Jain University-Lokniti-CSDS indicated that no party would get majority and predicted hung assembly in the state. The selection of candidates and the vigorous campaigning appears to have given an edge with Congress much ahead of its principal rival, the BJP.

The latest survey also shows that the ruling Congress is inching ahead in all regions of the state - Hyderabad-Karnataka, coastal Karnataka, Mumbai-Karnataka and others, except the Old Mysuru region in south Karnataka where it is trailing behind the JD(S), led by former PM H D Deve Gowda.

The previous survey by the same agency had predicted that the BJP would be ahead in coastal Karnataka and Mumbai Karnataka. But the new survey has succeeded in wresting power in these both regions. The survey also shows that the Congress still has suport Kurubas (of Siddaramaiah's community), the minority, Dalit and tribal voters. Though the JD(S) is preferred by the Vokkaliga voters, the Congress too has made some inroads into this dominant caste. The survey also reveals that a majority of the farmers are backing the Congress.

The survey further indicates that the electorate has given priority to the real issues pertaining to the state. The people of Karnataka have once again chosen Siddaramaiah as most preferred chief ministerial choice, followed by BJP's CM nominee, B S Yeddyurappa and the JD(S) nominee, H D Kumaraswamy in this survey.

To view the entire survey, click here