In the initial counting of postal ballots for the 28 Lok Sabha segments in Karnataka, the BJP was leading in 11 seats, the Congress in four, and the JD(S) in two. According to official sources, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was ahead in the Mandya segment, while Union Minister Pralhad Joshi (BJP) was leading in Dharwad.
Counting commenced at 8 am across 29 centers in the state. Karnataka holds significant importance for the BJP in South India, being the only state in the region where it has previously held power.
In the 2019 general elections, the Congress managed to secure only one out of the 28 seats in the state. The BJP had a landslide victory, winning 25 seats, with an additional seat going to an independent candidate supported by the party.
JD(S), led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, won one constituency in the last election. At that time, the Congress and JD(S) were in a coalition government and had contested the elections together.
Last September, the JD(S) joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and partnered with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections. The JD(S) is contesting in three seats: Mandya, Hassan, and Kolar.
