Though there are four main contenders — Congress, BJP, JD(S) and KJP — only the Congress seems to be putting up a fight in all the regions while the rest are restricted to their respective core areas.
While the Congress and the JD(S) are pitted against each other in the Old Mysore region (barring Bangalore Urban), the Congress and the BJP are in a direct fight in a majority of constituencies of Hyderabad-Karnataka, Mumbai Karnataka and Coastal Karnataka regions.
The KJP is giving sleepless nights to the BJP in Shimoga, Haveri and in Mumbai-Karnataka while BSR Congress is focussed on Bellary.
Earlier, the BJP tried to woo voters on its achievements, but shifted focus on the UPA givernment’s corruption since there were more takers to the issue. The JD(S) and the KJP have tried to convince voters on the need for regional parties. The JD(S) made use of the Cauvery row to seal its position in the Cauvery belt.