India's ruling BJP trails Congress in Karnataka state election - exit polls

People wait in a queue to cast their vote at a polling station during Karnataka state assembly election in Bengaluru, India, May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trailing the main opposition Congress party in elections held on Wednesday in the southern state of Karnataka, but neither seemed set for a clear win, TV exit polls showed.

The election in Karnataka, where BJP led the outgoing government, is the first of five state elections this year which are seen as setting the tone for parliamentary elections due in April-May 2024.