Will BJP Defend Karnataka? Will Go First Fly Again? Keep An Eye On Cyclone Mocha Too: What To Expect This Week Ahead

From the Karnataka election results to the Go First insolvency proceedings — here's what to expect in 'The Week Ahead'.

As you sip your morning coffee or tea, begin your day by reading ABP Live's summary of what to expect this week in the political space. The high stakes Karnataka Assembly election is set to be held on May 10, and Monday is the last day of campaigning in the state, which has seen the Congress proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal becoming a key poll issue. While the political temperatures may be rising in Karnataka, India will see no heatwave in the next five days, as per the IMD. However, Bengal, Odisha and Andaman will be on their toes as a cyclonic storm, named Cyclone Mocha, is likely to form around May 9.

The week will also be important for cash-strapped budget airline Go First as National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will pronounce its verdict on its insolvency resolution plea.

Read on as we try to decode the news and also the newsmakers in the next seven days help you understand what is likely to happen in the week ahead. Here are the biggest developments expected to play out this week.

Will Congress Wrest Back Karnataka Or Will BJP Protect Its Southern Citadel?

All eyes this week will no doubtedly be on the southern state of Karnataka as it goes to the hustings on May 10, with the results set to be known three days later on Saturday. It is a fight for survival for the Congress and its performance will affect its fate in two of the only three states it holds power now as elections are due later this year in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

The May 13 result will also determine the way the wind blows ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha election next year. Moreover, a victory will also give the Congress bragging rights as it tries to unite like-minded parties to form an Opposition front to take on the Modi juggernaut next year.

For the BJP, which has been riddled by allegations of corruption and defection of high-profile leaders like Jagadish Shettar, the polls are important as Karnataka is the only southern state it is in power. A loss this time means they will completely lose their foothold in the south.

It remains to be seen if the row over Congress' manifesto proposing a ban on Bajrang Dal has a knock-on effect on the results, with the issue garnering the limelight in the last week before polls. The issue has found a mention in each of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll rallies in the last week, with the BJP leader asking people to chant 'Jai Bajrang Bali' while casting their votes.

If the latest opinion poll conducted by ABP-CVoter is to be believed, Congress is likely to get a simple majority on its own in Karnataka and dislodge BJP. Of the total 224 seats in the Karnataka Assembly, the results of the opinion poll show that BJP is likely to win in 73-85 seats, Congress in 110-122 seats and the JD(S) in 21-29 seats.

The majority mark for a party to stake claim to form a government is 113.

States Make A Beeline To Rescue Its Citizens Trapped In Manipur

Even though life has started limping back to normalcy in Manipur, which has been rocked by violence over granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the non-tribal Meitei community, several states have started evacuating students and citizens from the state.

Sikkim, Maharashtra and Meghalaya have already started arranging special buses and flights to bring back their citizens from the violence-hit state. Sikkim is evacuating students stuck in Manipur through special flights from Kolkata. Already 128 students have been brought back.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said a special flight will be arranged for students and they will be brought back this week. There are 22 students in Manipur from Maharashtra

Will Go First Fly Again? Crucial NCLT Verdict This Week

Cash-strapped Go First awaits the NCLT ruling on its insolvency resolution plea on Monday and it remains to be seen if it paves the way for the airline to take to the skies again. The airline, which has liabilities of Rs 11,463 crore, has sought interim moratorium on financial obligations as well as an order restraining aviation watchdog DGCA and suppliers of essential goods and services from initiating adverse actions.

The airline, which has been flying for more than 17 years, has already cancelled all its flights until May 12 and also suspended the sale of tickets till May 15.

Go First, earlier known as Go Air, has said more than half of its fleet was grounded due to the non-availability of engines from US firm Pratt & Whitney (P&W), which powers its Airbus A320 neo aircraft. Go First has grounded 25 aircraft, or 50 per cent of the fleet.

Cyclone Mocha Keeps Bengal, Odisha, Andaman On Toes

Bengal, Odisha and Andaman are likely to see rainfall with squally winds from May 9 onwards with the possibility of a cyclonic circulation, which has formed in the Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a cyclonic storm. If it forms into a cyclone, it will be called Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen.

The IMD said under the influence of the cyclonic circulation, a low-pressure area is likely to form by May 8. "The details about the path and intensification will be provided after the formation of a low-pressure area," PTI quoted the IMD Director General as saying.

The weather office has warned fishermen of squally weather in southeast Bay of Bengal, with wind speeds touching 40-50 kmph from Sunday midnight onwards. Alert has also been sounded for offshore activities and shipping near Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 8 and 12.

In Odisha, a yellow alert has been sounded for rains along with thunderstorms for several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, and Puri.