Leading in 18 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, the BJP today marched way ahead of the ruling Congress which headed for a setback leading in only eight seats as the counting of votes progressed.
H D Deve Gowda-led JDS was leading in two constituencies, including Hassan where the former Prime Minister had established a lead of over 18,900 votes. The party was also ahead in its stronghold of Mandya.
In the prestigeous battle in Bangalore South, Infosys co-founder and face of UPA's Aadhar programme Nandan Nilekani was trailing behind BJP's formidable rival Ananth Kumar, a five-time MP, by over 17,000 votes. BJP candidates were leading in Bangalore North and Bangalore Central also.
Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has established an impressive lead of over one lakh votes against Congress' C Narayanaswamy in Bangalore North. In Bangalore Central, P C Mohan was leading by over 6,000 votes. BJP strongman and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has maintained an unassailable lead of over 1,82,000 votes in his stronghold of Shimoga constituency over Congress' Manjunath Bhandary.
In Dharwad, BJP Karnataka unit President Prahlad Joshi has established a lead of over 54,000 votes. Union Minister M Veerappa Moily was lagging in Chikkaballapur where his BJP opponent B N Bache Gowda was ahead of him by more than 4,800 votes.
In Gulbarga, Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge was leading by 22,900 votes over BJP's Revunaik Belamagi. Trends indicate that the BJP seems to have made a remarkable recovery almost across the state since it lost power in the May 2013. Assembly polls in which the Congress staged a spectacular comeback with the installation of the Siddaramaiah Government, though largely capitalising on a divided BJP after Yeddyurappa's exit then.
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