The counting of votes for the Karnataka state Assembly elections dubbed to be a game changer for the ensuing general elections next year is slated to begin from 8 am in the morning tomorrow while the results of all 222 constituencies is expected before noon.
Karnataka considered to be a gateway to South India for the saffron party has roused enormous curiosity not only in the state but elsewhere across the country. Counting of votes stored in the Electronic Voting Machines(EVM) will commence in all the 38 counting centres according to the sources in election commission.
Every district has a minimum of one counting centre while they are in multiples in the following districts: Chitradurga-2, South Canara-2,Mysuru-2,Tumakuru-2 and Bengaluru-5.
All measures for tight security arrangements have been taken while 11,160 people are being deployed for the task of counting of votes.Each counting centre will have 20-23 counting tables and as usual postal ballot will be first taken into account for calculation.The returning officers will start the process of counting of votes in front of the polling agents of various parties and Independents.
Since the moment for counting of votes is fast approaching the heartbeat of the contestants is also said to be on a new high pondering over the results sealed in the ballot boxes for now.
The state has registered a record 72.36 percent polling which is said to be unprecedented while 222 BJP,221 Congress,201 JDS,18 BSP,19 CPI(M),14 NCP and 1,155 Independent candidates are trying their electoral luck this time.In all there are 2,655 candidates among whom 2,436 are men and 219 are women.
The state chief minister Siddaramaiah,former chief ministers BS Yeddyurappa of the BJP and HD Kumaraswamy of the JDS are the prominent leaders among many others while BJP MP B Sriramulu contesting from two constituencies has also given rise to many speculations on the possible outcome.
Chamundeshwari,Badami,Shikaripura,Ramanagara,Channapatna,Molkalamuru,Babaleshwara and Ballari city are among the high voltage constituencies wherein the going is said to be too tough for the rival contenders.
The poll campaign for these elections reached a new pitch with leaders of all prominent parties touring across the state multiple times. Rahul Gandhi after being crowned as the Congress president is facing his first battle after taking the mantle of the party .He toured all the districts of the state for a month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi though entered the campaigning at a later stage made the impact felt and the BJP is pinning high hopes on the same.
It was either no better situation for the remaining party leaders.Despite his advanced age HD Devegowda,former prime minister travelled across the state to ensure that HD Kumaraswamy becomes the chief minister of the state once again.
But no one could match the political stamina of BJP strongman BS Yeddyurappa. He has been touring the state incessantly since two years and has virtually visited each and every constituency of the state.In that way he’s no challenge from any other party.
Although all the pre poll and exit poll surveys have projected mutually diverse results that has not changed the political leaders from continuing their confabulations to form the next government.But what the voter has in mind is yet to be known.
Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti
