Karnataka has not had a more fascinating and keenly contested Lok Sabha elections for quite some time. As the first round of the two-phase poll in the state begins on April 18, attention is clearly focussed on the straight electoral contest between the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) JD (S) alliance on the one hand and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the other.   
Never in the recent past, has the state witnessed a straight fight between the two contending political formulations. The results from the state would not only have critical national ramifications but could well decide the future of the coalition government in the state.    
The backdrop for the polls in Karnataka would verily be the Assembly elections held a year ago. The voter in the state elected an Assembly in which no party emerged with a clear majority. While the BJP was ahead as the single largest party, it could not garner the required numbers even though provided an opportunity by the Governor.