NEW DELHI: BJP makes inroads in Southern states; Congress retains strength in Kerala and Karnataka; regional parties dominate in Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
According to exit polls from ITV D-Dynamics, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making minor inroads into the traditionally non-BJP states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
In Tamil Nadu, out of 39 seats, the BJP is projected to win 2 seats. The Congress is expected to secure 6 seats, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) 22, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) 5, and others 4 seats. Puducherry is also likely to move away from the Congress.
In Kerala, with 20 seats, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is projected to win 14 seats, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) 4, and the BJP 2.
In Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is set to increase its tally to 13 seats, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) 7, Jana Sena Party (JSP) 2, and the BJP 3.
A political analyst commented, “In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the BJP is working on specific seats like Coimbatore and Vellore, but it will be challenging for them to make a significant impact. The opposition alliance is expected to sweep both states.”
In Karnataka, the BJP is projected to win 21 out of 28 seats, down from 25 in 2019.
Congress is expected to win 5 seats, and Janata Dal (Secular) 2. In Telangana, the BJP is expected to gain 7 seats, Congress 7, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) 2, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) 1. In 2019, the BJP did not win any seats in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, but secured 25 seats in Karnataka and 4 in Telangana. A senior leader in Telangana noted that the BJP is keenly watching the results to establish greater legitimacy and strengthen its position for future assembly elections.
In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP, which won no seats in 2019, is now projected to secure at least one seat, with YSRCP and TDP winning around 10 seats each.
Political analysts suggest that the Congress party’s incumbency in Telangana and Karnataka might help it score better, while the BJP is also expected to increase its tally in Telangana.
In Kerala, the Congress, which held a 90% strike rate in 2019, is projected to lose a few seats. A Congress leader noted, “We expect to win 16 to 18 seats, with the remaining going to the LDF. The BJP has worked hard in Kerala but will struggle to win any seats.”