Lok Sabha elections: Congress, BJP claim victory in 22 seats

HUBBALLI/BENGALURU: The Congress and BJP have been claiming they'll win 22 of the total 28

Lok Sabha

seats in Karnataka based on independent surveys.


Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said the party had received reports that the Congress-JD(S) alliance will bag 22 seats. "The coalition partners did a good job. Reports indicate we've done better this time and will cross the 20-seat barrier," he said in Hubballi on Saturday.

Parameshwara said BJP leaders think the results will have an adverse impact on the coalition government. "Their hopes will be dashed. Whatever be the result, the state government will complete its full term," he said.

An equally upbeat BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa said in Bengaluru: "I'm confident we'll win 22 seats."

He said the results will decide the outcome of the Karnataka government, with bypoll results of

Kundgol

and Chincholi assembly seats also to be announced that day. "There's disgruntlement among both JD(S) and Congress leaders. I wouldn't like to comment now on the survival of the government," he said.

EC diktat will affect drought relief works: DyCM

Parameshwara expressed unhappiness at the Election Commission's diktat, placing curbs on relief works related to drought and drinking water. "The EC had never taken such a harsh decision earlier. Doing nothing for two months will worsen the problem. The EC instructed us not to hold any meeting," he said.

In Belagavi, forests minister Satish Jarkiholi cautioned the coalition leaders to be wary of BJP's Operation Lotus if the NDA returns to power at the Centre. He said the operation was no longer confined to Karnataka as Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to extend it to all non-BJP states. His statement follows former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi's comment that those "roaming in red beacon cars'' will have to relinquish office after May 23.