The improved polling percentage in five Lok Sabha constituencies of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region is expected to benefit the Congress, Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil said on Saturday.
He told Express that the party will bag four out of five seats in the region.
Young voters, elated over the special status under Article 371(J) of the Constitution, thronged polling stations in large numbers and exercised their franchise, he said.
Echoing similar views, chairman of Hyderabad-Karnataka Horata Samiti Vaijinath Patil, who had spearheaded the agitation demanding amendment to Article 371, said people this time have acknowledged the UPA government’s gesture.
The state government’s initiatives in implementation of Article 371(J) also supported Congress’ prospects, he added.
However, BJP leader and former legislator Shashil Namoshi said whatever premium Congress was expecting from the special status was diluted by the Modi wave sweeping across the state.
In Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency, Railway Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge was made to sweat prior to polling though he was initially considered a strong candidate, he said.
On April 17, all the five constituencies had witnessed a high turnout compared to the 2009 general elections, recording more than 8-9 per cent growth.
Large numbers of youths and first-time voters made a bee line before polling stations.
Now one has to wait till May 16 when the counting would take place and put to rest all speculation on the outcome.