Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP) 

Bengaluru, Dec 4: The internal survey conducted by the Congress about the possible results of the by-poll reportedly has predicted victory for the party in five seats. With difficulty, it may reach the figure of six, and not more, it said. This information has dampened the spirits of the Congress leaders who were claiming to win 12 seats in the by-poll. Sources said that exactly for this reason, the Congress did not opt to field its candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state. They were earlier planning to humiliate the BJP based on the fact that the party might win 12 seats, even if it meant talking the JD(S) into supporting its candidate. 

Election for the Rajya Sabha seat would have been held on December 12 if the Congress had fielded its candidate. But it gave up as it was certain that it could not get the support of the JD(S) and its hopes of returning to power were dashed by the survey report.

While the BJP survey said that the party might reach the figure of eight with great difficulty with concerted efforts, but the Congress survey is said to have given the BJP chance of winning nine to ten seats. It also has predicted one seat for the JD(S). The fact that the survey has pinpointed differences between the Congress leaders as the sole reason for this poor showing has exposed the lackadaisical attitude of leaders. Siddaramaiah appears to be the lone leader who shouldered the responsibility of the by-poll and actively campaigned in all the 15 constituencies. The survey, sources said, also contains a note that if other leaders had wholeheartedly supported Siddaramaiah, the BJP could have been defeated. 

In the meanwhile, senior BJP leader, Aravind Limbavali, speaking at a press conference, again said that after the by-poll result, more leaders from the Congress and the JD(S) will cross over to the BJP. This information has become another factor for worry for the Congress and the JD(S). 

In the meantime, there is rumour that veteran JD(S) leader and former minister, G T Devegowda, who earlier was expected to support the BJP, has been supporting the Congress party in Hunsur constituency in order to leave a warning to the JD(S) not to overlook him. He also wants to teach a fitting lesson to former state JD(S) president, Vishwanath, who is fighting as a BJP candidate from there. 

Former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, said that the Congress leaders had not spoken to him about their willingness to strike an alliance with his party. About the 'sweet' news Mallikarjun Kharge had hinted of giving he said he would like to wait to see what that sweet news is. He said he will take other leaders of the party also into confidence before discussing about possible alliance with the Congress. 

Public campaigning for the 15 assembly seats which will go to poll tomorrow ended on Tuesday. Party workers are now busy conducting door to door visits to convince the voters to cast their votes in their favour.