Election Results 2019: 128 seats in South India to prove crucial for BJP and Congress

Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power.

The Southern states which account for 128 seats, excluding Vellore, are expected to play a crucial role in deciding the next government. (Images: PTI)

New Delhi: The Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karanataka, and Kerala which account for 128 seats, excluding Vellore, are expected to play a crucial role in deciding the next government. The fate of high-stake battle in Wayanad from where Rahul Gandhi is debuting as a candidate, apart from his traditional bastion Amethi, will also be decided today.  According to ABP Exit Poll 2019, Rahul Gandhi is likely to win his second seat against Thushar Vellappally, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power. Of the 543 seats in fray, 128 seats in the Southern region including states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, went to polls. As per the ABP News Exit poll, the overall picture of the general elections in South India looks good in favour of the Indian National Congress and its allies under the UPA fold as they are projected to win 53 of the 128 seats in the region. While, most of the exit polls have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on course to retain power for a second term, riding on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma like the way he swept to power in 2014. Here is the break up of the state wise seat projection done by ABP News Exit Poll  Karnataka: In Karnataka, the BJP-led NDA seems to have the slender edge over the Congress, winning 15 out of the 28 parliamentary seats. The Congress is not faring badly either and is likely to clinch 13 seats in Karnataka. Telangana : Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) is all set to sweep the general elections in Telagana, clinching 16 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP and Congress are  unlikely to open its account in the state. Kerala: The Indian National Congress-led UPA  is set to get a thumping majority in Kerala by clinching fifteen of the 20 seats in the state. Andhra Pradesh : In Andhra Pradesh, both the BJP and Congress may not open their account as the Telegu Desam Party and YSR Congress are expected to win a major chunk of the seats in the South Indian state.