A day after exit polls predicted a hung assembly in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to Twitter expressing confidence in forming the government a second time in a state which has never returned the same government to power since 1989.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah shows their finger marked with phosphoric ink after casting their vote at a polling booth during Karnataka Assembly Polls at Varuna Assembly Constituency, in Mysuru on May 12, 2018. (Photo: IANS)
A day after exit polls predicted a hung assembly in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to Twitter expressing confidence in forming the government a second time in a state which has never returned the same government to power since 1989.
On Sunday, 13 May, the 69-year-old Siddaramaiah, who contested from Chamundeshwari and Badami constituencies, dubbed the exit polls as “entertainment for the next two days”.
“Exit opinion polls are entertainment for the next 2 days,” he wrote.
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Siddaramaiah then gave a philosophical take on what exit polls mean – at least to him.
“Relying on poll of polls is like a person who can’t swim crossing a river on foot relying on a statistician who told him the average depth of the river is 4 feet,” he wrote.
“Please note average of 6+4+2 is 4. At 6 feet you drown!” he explained.
With that message, Siddaramaiah appealed to Congress workers to take rest and enjoy the weekend.
“So, Dear party workers, supporters & well wishers, don’t worry about exit polls. Relax & enjoy your weekend. We are coming back,” he signed off.
So, Dear party workers, supporters & well wishers, don’t worry about exit polls. Relax & enjoy your weekend.
We are coming back. 2/2
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 13, 2018
Following the end of a hectic day of polling across the state, various exit polls predicted a fractured verdict.
The exit poll conducted by India Today TV news channel placed the Congress ahead in Karnataka by giving it 106-118 seats in the 224 member House. It has given the BJP between 69-92 seats, while Janta Dal (Secular) gets 22-30 seats.
The exit poll conducted by Times Now and VMX gave 90-103 seats to the Congress against 80-93 of the BJP and 30-39 of the JD(S).
In the ABP News-C Voter post-polling survey, the BJP was ahead of the Congress. The saffron party was given 101-113 seats against 82-94 of Congress. JD(S) got about 18-31 seats.
The exit poll of India TV, too, placed the Congress ahead by giving it 97 seats against 87 of the BJP and 35 of the JD(S).
The Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat exit poll predicted 95-114 seats for BJP, 73-82 seats for Congress, 32-43 seats for JDS and 2-3 seats for Others.
Local Kannada channel, Suvarna’s exit poll predicted 106 to 118 seats for Congress, 79-92 seats for BJP, 22-30 seats for JD (S) and 1-4 seats for Others.
The polling took place for 222 seats in the state and the results will be out on 15 May.
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