Bengaluru: Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats. In 2014, the BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP won 17 seats whereas Congress secured nine and JD(S) won two seats.

Polling was held in two phases on April 18 and April 23 with voters of 14 constituencies in each phase exercising their franchise.

By-polls were conducted in two constituencies; Chincholi and Kundagol on May 19. The results of the same will also be announced on May 23.

Most of the exit polls have predicted that the BJP will secure 18 to 19 seats whereas Congress and JD(S) alliance will succeed in securing only eight to nine seats. Among the independents, hopes are pinned on Mandya candidate Sumalatha, who is supported by the BJP, and actor Prakash Raj who is not likely to win, according to surveys.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP won most of the seats, but fell two seats short of its previous result when compared to 2009, where the party had won 19 seats. The Congress had won six seats and JD(S) managed to secure three seats in 2009.

However, the BJP has maintained its position and has managed to defeat the Congress and JD(S) in the state with a handsome margin in majority of the constituencies.

This time, former union minister Ananth Kumar, who had won in Bengaluru South six times, is no more. In his place, BJP has fielded a newcomer, Tejasvi Surya.