Bengaluru: The outcome of the clash of Titans in Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies could well change the dynamics of politics in Karnataka ahead of next year's elections to the Legislative Assembly.

For, the results, likely to be announced by noon on Thursday, could tilt the scales in favour of either the Congress or the BJP, and provide a crucial head start in the run-up to polls in 2018. With independent observers and leaders of Congress and BJP alike ruling out the possibility of a split verdict-one seat each for these two parties-the victory will be leveraged to strengthen its position across the state by the victorious team.

In case the ruling Congress, accused of misusing official machinery and spending astronomical sums to woo voters in both constituencies, manages a 2-0 result, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's position will be fortified besides proving a morale booster for his party colleagues and party workers. Though both Mr Siddaramaiah and KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar have reiterated that these results ought not to be read as a referendum on the performance of the four-year-old government, the outcome will reflect the mood of the people, according to observers.

On the other hand, if Dalits and Lingayats jointly back the BJP along with voters of numerically insignificant communities, owing to the clout of former Union minister and BJP candidate V Srinivas Prasad and state BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa, the principal Opposition will be able to romp home in both constituencies which were so far the stronghold of Congress. A victory in both Nanjangud and Gundlupet will encourage BJP leaders to launch a no-holds-barred assault on the state government and galvanize the cadre to shore up the party's fortunes across the state. Besides, some Congress leaders are likely to jump ship in order to be a part of the winning team in 2018. And Mr Siddaramaiah and his ministers will certainly be embarrassed in case their efforts to retain these seats are proved to nought.