Bengaluru, Apr 17 After a month-long rancorous campaign, 14 of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka will go to the polls in the first phase on Thursday with the main battle between the ruling Congress-JD(S) combine and the BJP.
The constituencies, which are going to the polls in the first phase, are mostly in the southern part of the state covering almost the entire old Mysuru region and few coastal districts.
It is a high stakes battle for the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance as any adverse results from the region, considered as their stronghold, is likely to have its impact on the longevity of the coalition government in the state.
The BJP is determined to improve its tally compared to last time riding on the Modi wave. Of the 14 constituencies going to the polls, the BJP and Congress had won six each in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and JD(S) in two.