Karnataka Election Results LIVE: ‘Ego doesn’t stay for long’, says Kharge

BJP leader CT Ravi tweets after loss in Chikkamagaluru,”Infinite thanks to the activist friends who stood by @BJP4Chikmagalureven in defeat. I may be lost, but not dead. My struggle will continue on behalf of the ideology, party, people and activists that I believe in. As always, I will be standing in Chikkamagalur as your voice, working for you all”.

Ego doesn’t stay for long. It’s a democracy and we’ll have to listen to people and bow our heads before the people who show us the right path. It’s not a victory of anyone, it’s a victory of the people of the state. They decided and chose. That’s why we got 136 seats – huge after 36 years

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge says,”It is a result of efforts by our Congress workers. It is a result of collective leadership. Karnataka ensured a BJP-mukt South India”.

Karnataka has created history. Karnataka has shown a new life for democracy not only for the people of Karnataka but for the entire country. This is a victory of every Kannadiga: Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC in-charge of Karnataka

Karnataka has shown the light of democracy, says Randeep Singh Surjewala at the press conference in KPCC office. 

Bengaluru | #KarnatakaElectionResults | “…As a common man, as a brother of DK Shivakumar, I will be the happiest person if he becomes the Chief Minister,” says Congress MP DK Suresh.

Congress leader AK Antony says, “…The clear message is that it is a victory of secular forces against hate politics. National message is if the secular voters can unite, they can easily throw out the Modi Govt in 2024 election.”

Brothers Ramesh Jarkiholi and Balachandra Jarkiholi won the Karnataka assembly polls on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tickets while their other sibling Satish Jarkiholi romped home as a Congress nominee in the state’s Belagavi district. Full report

“I want to congratulate the people of Karnataka for rejecting the politics of hatred and accepting the politics of love,” says NC chief Farooq Abdullah

Congress has won the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections by the biggest vote share and seats after a whopping 34 years. Even as the counting was on, political activist Yogendra Yadav said that this election is the biggest victory for “any party in Karnataka” after 1989 during Veerendra Patil’s regime when the Congress had won 178 seats with a vote share of 43.76 percent. Full report

Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah felicitate party president Mallikarjun Kharge after the grand old party’s victory in Karnataka election

Over 2.6 lakh voters who exercised their franchise in the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls used the ‘none of the above’ or NOTA option, according to Election Commission figures. According to figures available around 3.30 pm, 2,59,278 (0.7 per cent) out of the nearly 3.84 crore people who came out to vote on Wednesday exercised the NOTA option.

Home minister Amit Shah tweets,” My sincere gratitude to the people of Karnataka for giving the BJP the opportunity to serve them for so many years. The BJP under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji will continue to strive for the welfare and development of the people of Karnataka.

Congress is all set to form the government in Karnataka. The Grand Old Party registered a historic win, ousting the BJP from its only southern bastion. Watch this video for more

Even as the ruling BJP was defeated in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the party retained its traditional stronghold in the coastal region by securing victories in 11 of the 13 constituencies in the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweets,”While this is the direct impact of the #BharatJodoYatra in Karnataka, the intangible impact was uniting the party, reviving the cadre and shaping the narrative for the Karnataka elections. It was during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, from the many conversations @RahulGandhi had with the people of Karnataka, that the Guarantees and the promises in our manifesto were discussed and finalised”.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar gave a clarion call for the 2024 Lok Sabha election as the Congress is all set for a decisive win in the crucial Karnataka election. NCP too contested in Karnataka, but that was just an attempt, Sharad Pawar who was at the centre of the crisis in Maharashtra said. Full report

Congress’ CB Suresh Baabu defeated State Minister and BJP candidate JC Madhu Swamy in Chikkanayakanahall, by a margin of 10,042 votes.

Congress party’s Pradeep Eshwar defeated State Minister and BJP candidate Dr. K Sudhakar in Chikkaballapur, by a margin of 10,642 votes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Congress for its win in the Karnataka assembly elections. “Congratulations to the Congress Party for their victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. My best wishes to them in fulfilling people’s aspirations,” PM Modi tweeted.

The remarkable Congress triumph in Karnataka is a huge accomplishment for a party that has struggled to find political success in the past decade. Find out here what does it mean for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

 Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the BJP accepts the result in the Karnataka assembly election and added that his party will work as a constructive opposition in the state. He further asked about Rahul Gandhi’s opinion on democracy as the Congress is making strides in the election result.

“Rahul Gandhi said abroad that there is no democracy in India. Today people should ask him what he thinks about democracy and EVMs,” he told ANI.

Check out here five reasons that hurt BJP and helped Congress script win in Karnataka assembly election.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala exchange sweets as the party is set to win the Karnataka assembly election.

Congress started its poll preparation way before BJP, CM Bommai said while explaining one of the key reasons for the right-wing party’s defeat in the Karnataka assembly election 2023. 

“I take responsibility for this debacle. There are multiple reasons for this. We will find out all the reasons and strengthen the party once again for Parliament elections,” he told reporters.

Members of the transgender community wait outside a counting station in Mysuru to thank and bless four Congress leaders including Siddaramaiah. 

“Siddaramaiah will be the CM and will do well for the transgenders and the poor,” one of the members was quoted as saying by ANI.

Reacting to the Karnataka election result 2023, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said now the BJP will not have the courage to allow an election in J&K any time soon. The Union Territory is scheduled to go to the polls in 2023. Read more

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar collects his certificate and shows a victory sign after winning from Kanakpura constituency.

Here is a full list of winning/trailing candidates from all 224 constituencies in the southern state.

The Congress has won 55 of the 224 assembly seats in Karnataka so far and is leading in 80, while the BJP has won 22 and is ahead in 43, according to the latest trends on the Election Commission website. The Janata Dal (Secular) has bagged 10 seats so far and is leading in 10.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the ‘Bajrang Bali’ row.

“You can see with whom Bajrang Bali stands. Bajrang Bali’s ‘gada’ hit corruption on its head and BJP was done,” he said.

Bangalore South election 2023 results LIVE: Bangalore South constituency constitutes – Govindraj Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Chickpet, Basavanagudi, Padmanabha Nagar, B.T.M. Layout, Jayanagar, Bommanahalli seats. Here are the results of these seats. 

1. In the 224-seat Karnataka assembly, a party needs to win 113 seats to form the government in the state. 
2. Congress is already ahead on 136 seats, while the BJP is leading on 63. 
3. Outgoing Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai has conceded defeat. “We have not been able to cross the mark. Once the results out, we will do a detailed analysis. We will find out the gaps and deficiencies, and we will reorganise the party and come back for the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
4. All the focus now will be on who the Congress picks as their Chief Ministerial candidate. 
5. Both state chief DK Shivakumar and senior leader Siddaramaiah are eyeing the post. 

Congress leader Siddaramaiah said with the mandate for the party in the Karnataka assembly elections he hopes for Rahul Gandhi to become the prime minister of the country.

“The result of this election is a stepping stone to the Lok Sabha election. I hope all non-BJP parties come together and see that BJP is defeated and I also hope Rahul Gandhi may become PM of the country,” Siddaramaiah said.

This is Siddaramaiah’s moment in the sun and he is not missing any part of it to give a signal to the Congress high-command what exactly he wants following the thunderous win of the party in Karnataka. The same can be said about DK Shivakumar who was overwhelmed, emotional and sniffling at a press conference today. 

“This (election result in Karnataka) will be a stepping stone for Congress’ victory in 2024,” Siddaramaiah said who had earlier appealed, sombrely, “This is my last election. I will retire from electoral politics”.

Who will become the chief minister? Exultant Congress needs to figure out. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says on Karnataka poll results, “I thank and congratulate people of Karnataka, party workers and leaders.”

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s grandson and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy’s son, Nikhil Kumaraswamy is trailing Ramanagram constituency.

In Channapatna, Janata Dal-Secular leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is leading against BJP’s CP Yogeshwara.

State minister and BJP leader V Somanna who was fielded from two constituencies both in Varuna and Chamarajanagar, is trailing on both seats.

Congress’ Tanveer Sait, who the party fielded from Narasimharaja, is leading against BJP’s S Satheesh Swamy.

Congress’ Ramalinga Reddy is leading against BJP’s KR Sridhara in the BTM Layout constituency.

Congress leader Laxman Savadi, who was earlier in the BJP and quit the party after being denied a ticket, is leading from the Athani constituency against BJP’s Mahesh Kumathalli.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge, who was pitted against BJP’s Manikanta Rathod from the Chittapur constituency, won by a margin of 13,640 votes

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar is leading from Kanakapura against BJP’s R Ashoka and is poised to win with a big margin.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is contesting from the Shiggaon constituency, is leading against Congress’ Pathan Yasirahmedkhan.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the BJP’s attempts to polarise the polls proved futile.

“I congratulate our national president Mallikarjun Kharge ji, Rahul ji, Priyanka ji, Sonia ji and all party leaders and workers and Karnataka leadership. At a time when the BJP is trying to heavily polarise, the people of Karnataka have given their verdict. It has clarified that ‘Bajrangbali’ (Lord Hanuman) is with Congress” he said.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, “I thank the people of Karnataka for giving a huge mandate to Congress. We will uphold their belief in us. We will implement all the welfare schemes we have announced in our manifesto. I thank Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi who campaigned even when she wasn’t well.”

The election in Karnataka is the first of five crucial state polls this year- seen as an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of national elections next year.

BJP leader BS Yediyurappa reflected on the party’s defeat in Karnataka election saying, “Victory and defeat aren’t new to BJP. Party workers need not be panicked by these results. We will introspect about the party’s setback. I respectfully accept this verdict.”

Karnataka is the second state that the BJP has lost to the Congress in the last six months. In December, the Congress unseated BJP in Himachal Pradesh.

The Rahul Gandhi-led ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ entered Karnataka on September 30 at Gundlupet in Chamarajanagara district. The yatra passed through Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Bellary and Raichur, traversing a distance of over 500 kms in about 22 days in Karnataka.

Senior Congress party leader P Chidambaram said, “Warm congratulations and sincere thanks to the people of Karnataka for delivering a decisive verdict. This election was more than an election to a state assembly. It was about upholding the fundamental values of the Indian Constitution and stopping the damage done by supremacist theories, discrimination and prejudice.”

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge termed Congress’ good show in the Karnataka Assembly polls as a victory of “Janata Janardhana”, saying people have voted “furiously” against BJP’s “bad administration” in the state. 

“We have sent a message to everyone (newly elected persons) to come by this evening. They all will come here by this evening and once they come, they will be instructed on the due course. After that, the high command will send observers (and) after that the due processes (for government formation) will follow,” he said. 

“People themselves have got up and supported us, they have voted for us furiously against the bad administration. This shows voters of Karnataka are awakened. Despite the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Amit Shah), dozens of Ministers, Chief Ministers of other states camping here, and despite manpower, money and muscle being used, people have unitedly voted for Congress,” he added. 

In terms of vote share, Congress got 43 per cent, BJP 36 per cent and JD(S) 13.2 per cent.

The race for the Chief Minister post was the one issue most discussed around the Congress party. Both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah announced themselves to be the CM faces of the party in early 2022. 

But…

Something changed. In November 2022, the leaders took out a joint bus rally in the state as per the plan of the Congress high command. Then, they were seen together during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. 

The lack of controversy over the CM’s face may have worked for the Congress. 

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the assembly election trends from Karnataka that project a Congress victory send the message that the “end” of the BJP’s negative, communal and corrupt politics has begun.

“The message from Karnataka is that the ‘antkaal (end)’ of the BJP’s negative, communal, corrupt, pro-rich, anti-women, anti-youth, socially divisive, propaganda, individual-centric politics has begun,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

Ahead of the elections, the Congress offered a series of welfare schemes. The four promises so far include stipends for unemployed youth, ₹2,000 payments for women heads of families, 200 units of free electricity, and ten kilograms of rice for the poor.

“Prices have skyrocketed and the income of the common man has not increased if not gone down. It has become difficult for people to sustain. That is why we want to introduce these schemes; it is our responsibility to ease their burden and certainly, people will appreciate it,” DK Shivakumar said. 

The Congress, which till last year was seen as a tired and unenthusiastic, launched the ‘40% Sarkara’ campaign- a reference to allegations by Karnataka Contractors’ Association, claiming that BJP leaders and officials take 40% of the tender amount as a bribe for state-funded infrastructure projects.

Congress also started the ‘PayCM’ campaign which is a wordplay on digital payments firm PayTM. 

Exit of veteran leaders like Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi may have hit the BJP in Karnataka. Both Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi are prominent faces of the Linagayat community that forms 17% of the electorate and is wooed by parties for the clout it wields.

Janata Dal’s (Secular) leader and the grandson of former PM Devegowda, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who was running for the Ramanagara constituency, was at the second spot with 47,891 votes with 39.5 percentage.

Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “In spite of a lot of efforts put in by PM and BJP workers, we’ve not been able to make the mark. Once the full results come we’ll do a detailed analysis. We take this result in our stride to come back in Lok Sabha elections.”

The rise in costs of essential commodities like fuel and cooking gas, and unemployement became a focal point for the Congress and JD(S) as they consolidated the poor and middle class.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Karnataka has chosen the politics of development over communal politics.

“This will be repeated in the upcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana as well,” Ashok Gehlot said in a tweet in Hindi.

Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Once ‘High Command’ sends observers, other processes will follow.”

The Basavaraj Bommai-led government’s move to scrap the 4% reservation for Muslims in the 2B category of the Other Backward Castes (OBC) in government employment and education, and distribute it equally among the Vokkaliga and Lingayat castes was a major talking point. The state government’s last-minute decision on internal reservation among the Scheduled Castes community also drew ire from a section of the community.

Karnataka Congress leader BK Hariprasad said, “…Not a new path, people have chosen the clean path. This is a good mandate against BJP’s false promises and negative politics…We had received a clear mandate much earlier. Still, they formed the Govt by poaching our MLAs. People didn’t want to experiment this time. So, they gave a clear mandate.”

The BJP, trying to buck the anti-incumbency against the only government it heads in southern India, failed. It is a feat no party has achieved in Karnataka since 1985.

The BJP banked on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who held marathon rallies and inaugurated several big development projects in the run up to the polls.

But maybe, it is anti-incumbency that became the reason for BJP’s defeat. 

Corruption allegtions hit the ruling BJP in the run up to the elections with the Congress cashing in on the narrative by launching the ‘PayCM campaign’ and targetting the government over ‘40% commission’ allegations in public works.

Mahua Moitra tweeted, “Thank you Karnataka . For choosing LPG over Bajrangbaliji.”

The Congress is set to breach the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s lone southern citadel Karnataka. Here’s what the party said, rather jabbed!

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that Bharatiya Janata Party’s V Somanna will be defeated from both Varuna and Chamarajanagar constituencies.

The BJP has fielded Somanna from both Varuna and Chamarajanagar constituencies.

As counting of votes is underway in the southern state after polling took place on May 10, here’s a look at the winning candidates in Karnataka from the BJP.

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said, “We’ve not been able to make the mark. Once the results come we will do a detailed analysis.”

“As a national party, we will not only analyse but also see what deficiencies and gaps were left at various levels. We take this result in our stride,” he added. 

In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, followed by the Congress 69, JD-S 29, BSP one, independents two, speaker one and vacant six.

With a possible win on the horizon, Congress’ Shama Mohammed said, “The Bharat Jodo Yatra made a lot of difference”, referring to the Kanyakumari to Kashmir campaign headed by Rahul Gandhi.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting called tomorrow morning in Bengaluru as the party crosses the majority mark and surges ahead in 118 seats in Karnataka election results. 

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited a Lord Hanuman temple in Shimla.

BJP’s Mahesh Tenginkai is leading while Congress leader Jagadish Shettar is trailing Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency. Jagadish Shettar, a former Karnataka Chief Minister, had left the BJP and joined Congress after denial of ticket.

Former Karnataka CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy visited a temple in Bengaluru amid the counting of votes for Karnataka polls. He is leading from Channapatna assembly constituency.

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that the party will come to power on its own by winning over 120 seats in the 224-member Karnataka legislative assembly.

“Congress party will win by getting over 120 seats, it is still the initial stage, more rounds of counting have to be completed. So Congress will come to power by getting over 120 seats on its own strength,” the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said.

As the early trends in Karnataka showed the Congress party crossing the halfway mark in Karnataka, Sachin Pilot said that the issue of “corruption” raised by the party against the ruling BJP turned out decisive in the victory.

Sachin Pilot said, “Congress has the majority. We will have a thumping victory. The slogan of ’40 per cent commission government’ given by us, was accepted by the public. It was a major issue raised by us to defeat BJP. People accepted it and gave the majority to the Congress”.

Congress has learnt a lesson from its defeats and is marching towards victory today, party leader Alka Lamba said as Congress leads over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in early trends.

Last week, the Election commission asked Congress to provide evidence of their newspaper advertisements claiming allegations of corruption by the BJP.  Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal responded by asking EC to seek “proof from PM Narendra Modi when he accused Congress of ‘backdoor political negotiations’ with those linked to terrorism”, thus starting a row ahead of polling. 

According to the latest counting trends updated by the Election Commission, BJP is leading at 69, Congress at 120 and JD(S) 26.

The Opposition Congress seemed to be on course to breach the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s lone southern citadel Karnataka.

Congress leader Pavan Khera said, “This is the message for the BJP that please stick to issues that matter to everyday life of people and don’t try and divide India.”

During the election cycle, Congress claimed that the BJP has been planning to assassinate Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and his family. The party released an alleged audio clip in which Manikanta Rathod, BJP candidate from Chittapur, could be heard abusing Mallikarjun Kharge.

When Congress released its manifesto for the state, the party said that it would ban Bajrang Dal. In response, Bajrang Dal and BJP workers protested by chanting Hanuman Chalisa and burning Congress flags. The Vishva Hindu Parishad issued a defamation notice to the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy of JD(S) trails in Ramanagara seat by 9,609 votes against Congress’ HA Iqbal Hussain.

Of all the regions, trends show that the BJP is ahead in coastal Karnataka, which sends only 21 MLAs to the state assembly, Hindustan Times reports. 

The Congress’ performance still appears to be slightly better than most exit polls predicted, Hindustan Times reports.

Congress seems to be ahead even in the Lingayat dominated Central and Mumbai-Karnataka regions- breaking BJP’s stronghold over the Lingayat vote bank.

The Congress has done reasonably well in almost all regions of the state but it has performed much better in the northern parts- home to the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Hindustan Times reports. 

The key victim so far appears to be the JD(S) as the contest sharpened into a bipolar one in Karnataka. The vote share of the party, led by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, has dropped to just about 10%, nearly half of its 18% share in 2018.

With initial trends showing a clear edge for the Congress in Karnataka, will the party get past the 113-seat majority mark in the 224-seat state assembly on its own?

Data from the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) website shows that the Congress has a vote share of around 44.5%, significantly higher than 38% during the previous elections in 2018, when it won 80 seats. To be sure, the BJP’s vote share has not dipped from the 2018 level of about 36%. 

It remains to be seen what happens next. 

During election campaign in Kalaburagi, Congress president and Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka Mallikarjun Kharge called PM Modi ‘poisonous snake’. Home Minister Amit Shah and Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai criticized the Congress leader calling it Congress’s ‘hate politics’.

As early trends for Karnataka assembly elections results showed Congress leading, BJP leader and former union minister DV Sadanand Gowda said that there will be a “tough fight” as Congress has “joined hands” with the JD(S).

“The counting has just started. After 2-3 hours, we will get an idea but that too will not be final as there is a tough fight in every seat and I do agree with this; I am not denying this. It will be a tough fight because our opponents have joined hands together,” he said.

Ex – Karnataka CM and the Congress candidate from Hubballi – Dharwad Central, Jagadish Shettar is trailing at his bastion, according to the early trends of the Election Commission.

Yediyurappa’s son vijayendra leads from Shikaripura: 5176 votes to independents 3465.

Karnataka Congress Chief D K Shivakumar leading in Kanakapura by about 6,000 votes against BJP leader and minister R Ashoka.

Congress asked all its MLAs to reach Bengaluru, ANI reported. Special arrangements have also been made for the same, the report added.

Karnataka had an all-time high voter turnout of 73.19% for assembly polls with Chikkaballapur district showing the highest figures at 85.56%. According to experts, a higher voter turnout is not a sign of an anti-incumbency wave.

“The sentiment on the ground and exit polls suggest there could be a decision in favour of the Congress. There have been no instances in the past, where the Congress has become the single largest party and has not formed the government,” political analyst Sandeep Shastri said.

Karnataka chief minister Basavraj Bommai is leading from the Shiggaon constituency in the state’s Haveri district. At 9.30 am, Basavaraj Bommai was ahead by over 1,200 votes. In second place is the Congress’ Pathan Yasir Ahmed Khan while Shashidhar Yeligar of the Janta Dal (Secular) is a distant third.

BJP Karnataka state president Nalin Kumar Kateel in a party meet at Mangalore had said in January that people should prioritise the issue of “Love jihad” over “road, gutter, drain and other small issues”. His comments were criticised by Congress leaders and several state BJP leaders as well. 

The early trend suggests that former BJP ministers JC Madhuswamy, B Sriramalu, Murugesh Nirani and Ramesh Jarkiholi are trailing.

In Karnataka, a fight has been continuing between two major milk cooperatives that spilled over into a political slugfest ahead of the assembly elections. Congress and pro-Kannada groups attacked the Bommai government for allowing Amul to sell fresh milk and curd in Bengaluru. The critics believe that entry of Amul is not good for Karnataka’s local brand Nandini.

The total electorate in Karnataka is at 5,21,73,579 of which there were 2.62 crore men, 2.59 crore women and 4,699 transgender voters. 16,976 centenarians, 12.15 lakh voters over the age of 80 and 9.17 lakh first-time voters were also included.

In February, BJP leader HD Thammaiah joined Congress along with his supporters. In March, BJP MLC Puttanna joined the Congress.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar quit BJP in April and joined Congress the next day. Leaders that left BJP before the polls include Laxman Savadi, S Angara, M P Kumaraswamy and R. Shankar.

Karnataka registered a voter turnout of 73.19 per cent which election officials termed a “record”.

“Karnataka has created a new record for itself. Final voter turnout for Karnataka Election 2023 stands at 73.19 per cent,” Chief Electoral Office, Karnataka said. 

Chikkaballapura district recorded the highest voter turnout of 85.56 per cent, followed by Bengaluru Rural at 85.08 per cent. The top five districts with higher voter turnout are all from Old Mysuru region, which is considered to be the bastion of JD(S). The ruling BJP is considerably weak in this region.

The other three districts after Chikkaballapura and Bengaluru Rural are Ramanagara (85.04 percent), Mandya (84.45), and Tumakuru (83.58).

Congress in Karnataka is ahead of the ruling BJP, according to the initial trends of counting of votes polled for the May 10 Assembly elections. Congress was leading in 82 seats and the BJP in 66. The JD(S), led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, gained an early lead in 21 segments.

Congress leader and son of former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Yathindra Siddaramiah said, “Congress will get an absolute majority and form the government in Karnataka. We are very confident that we will make government on our own.”

Electoral fortunes of top leaders – Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress veterans Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and Mr Kumaraswamy- are in the fray.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visited the Hanuman temple in Hubballi. “Today is a big day for Karnataka as the people’s verdict for the state will be out,” he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai exuded confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging victorious with an absolute majority.

“Today is a big day for Karnataka as the people’s verdict for the state will be out. I am confident that BJP will win with absolute majority and give a stable government,” Basavaraj Bommai said.

Reacting to Janata Dal (Secular) national spokesperson Tanveer Ahmed’s remark that they have already decided which party to support in forming the government in Karnataka, state Congress president DK Shivakumar said ‘let them take their own call.’

“I do not know about JD(S), it’s their party, their internal decision. Let them take their own call in the interest of their party or national leadership. I do not want to get involved in that or comment about it. Their leaders have also travelled the length and breadth of Karnataka. Maybe they believe that they have a chance in the state. Let the people decide”, the Congress chief said.

1. 224 assembly seats of Karnataka went for polls on May 10. Counting of votes started at 8 am amid tight security.
2. The counting is being held at 36 centres across Karnataka, in which 2,615 candidates are in the fray.
3. A clear picture of the result is likely to emerge by noon.

Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Congress leader and son of former CM Siddaramaiah, said, “We will do anything to keep BJP out of power…In the interest of Karnataka, my father should become the CM.”

Postal ballots are being counted initially. The elections to the 224-member Assembly were held on May 10.

The BJP was slightly ahead of the Congress in early trends as the counting of votes began. As per the latest trends, the BJP was ahead in 41, the Congress 36 and JD (S) in 13.

With no party getting a clear majority in 2018, Congress and JD(S) tried to forge an alliance. BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa staked claim and formed the government but it was short-lived as it dissolved within three days, ahead of a trust vote. 

Yediyurappa was unable to muster the required numbers. Subsequently, the Congress-JD(S) alliance formed the government with Kumaraswamy as chief minister, but the government collapsed in 14 months, triggered by the resignation of 17 ruling coalition MLAs who then defected to the BJP and facilitated its return to power. 

The BJP had emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by Congress with 80 seats and JD(S) at 37 in 2018. In the 2018 elections, the Congress garnered a vote-share of 38.04 per cent, followed by the BJP (36.22 per cent) and the JD(S) (18.36 per cent).

“A government with full majority” was a very strong pitch of the leaders of all the political parties during campaigning in Karnataka. Why, you ask? The parties stressed on getting a clear mandate to form a strong and stable government. They did not want to repeat what happened after the 2018 polls. But the exit polls offered little solace, anyways.

It is a two decade old trend in Karnataka. The state is witnessing yet another three-cornered electoral contest this time as well, with a direct fight between the BJP, Congress and JD(S) in most of the constituencies.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) could emerge a “kingmaker” or a “king” by holding the key to government formation in the event of a hung verdict as exit polls have predicted. The party has also done so in the past.

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said that he has not been contacted as yet for the formation of the government in case of a cliffhanger. Citing exit polls, HD Kumaraswamy predicted nearly 30-32 seats to JD(S) and a clear edge to the Congress party.

“In the next 2-3 hours, it will become clear. Exit polls show that the two national parties will score in a big way. The polls have given 30-32 seats to JD(S). I am a small party, there is no demand for me…I am hoping for a good development,” he said.

Congress state president D K Shivakumar junked exit poll results in which the party was said to be likely to contend with a hung Assembly. 

“I don’t trust exit polls. I have trust in 141 seats. Our sample size is much bigger. Exit poll sample size is small. There is a major wave in favour of the Congress,” DK Shivakumar.

The counting is being held at 36 centres across the state, in which 2,615 candidates are in the fray. Polling was held across 58,545 polling stations to elect the members in the 224-seat Karnataka assembly. 

Minute-by-minute updates of who all are leading/trailing in their respective constituencies will be available on the official website of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The initial trends will begin trickling in around 10 am, and the final results are expected later in the day.

Hindustan Times’ also brings to you fastest updates from Karnataka elections results. Stay tuned!

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai exuded confidence and said that BJP will return to power in the state. All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge said that they will see on Saturday after the results. “We will see tomorrow,” Kharge said, commenting on a question about the BJP’s claim of getting a majority and is still in touch with JD(S) as a backup plan.

Karnataka has never brought the incumbent back to power since 1985 and the BJP would be hoping to do a first.

Congress fielded its heavyweights for election duty in Karnataka- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

BJP pulled out its top brass, including PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the party’s national president JP Nadda for the campaign in Karnataka. 

Chikmagalur is among the key electoral battlegrounds in Karnataka where the BJP is eyeing a win as it has fielded its national general secretary CT Ravi from this seat.

Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda’s grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, is eyeing an electoral turnaround in the Ramanagara Assembly constituency. He lost in the last assembly polls. This time, he is pitted against Congress veteran HA Iqbal Hussain and the BJP’s Gowtham Gowda.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, Priyank Kharge, is contesting the Chittapur assembly constituency. Priyank Kharge was a former minister in the Siddaramaiah government.

Congress Karnataka chief DK Shivakumar said the party will not be moving any of its MLAs to a resort until the assembly election results are announced on Saturday. Read more

BY Vijayendra, an electoral greenhorn, will hope to conjure a win from the Shikaripura constituency. It is considered a stronghold of his father and former CM BS Yediyurappa.

Channapatna is witnessing a triangular contests between JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, BJP’s Yogeshwara and Congress’s Gangadhar. 

BJP turncoat and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who switched over to the Congress after being denied a ticket by the saffron party contested from the Hubli-Darwad West assembly constituency. He is up against BJP’s Mahesh Tenginkai.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar is eyeing a fresh term from the Kanakapura Assembly constituency. He is in a direct contest against BJP’s Vokkaliga strongman and state revenue minister R Ashoka.

In the Varuna constituency, Congress stalwart and former chief minister Siddaramaiah is pitted against the BJP’s V Somanna. Somanna is a state minister. The third candidate in the fray is Dr. Bharathi Shankar of the JD(S).

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is fighting the election from the Shiggaon constituency. He has won three consecutive terms in the assembly from the constituency. 

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said, “In the next 2-3 hours, it will become clear. Exit polls show that the two national parties will score in a big way. The exit polls have given 30-32 seats to JD(S). I am a small party, there is no demand for me.”

“I am hoping for a good development”, he added. 

The Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities account for 17 and 11 percent of the Karnataka’s population. The  communities are set to play a key role in deciding the eventual poll outcome.

The key constituencies to watch out for today are: Varuna, Kanakapura, Shiggaon, Hubli-Darwad, Channapatna, Shikaripura, Chittapur, Ramanagara, and Chikmagalur.

Congress is expected to have a clear edge in Karnataka as four exit polls gave the party a full majority. Some exit polls also predicted a hung assembly with an advantage to Congress.

India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicted that Congress is poised to win a comfortable majority with 122-140 seats, BJP will get 62-80 seats, JD(S) 20-25 and others 0-3 seats. 

Poll of polls shows an advantage for the Congress with the party poised to win 109 seats, BJP 91 seats and JD-S 23.

News24-Today’s Chanakya predicted Congress crossing the halfway mark, BJP 92 seats and JD-S 12 seats.

Times Now-ETG poll and India TV-CNX poll predicted Congress hitting the majority mark. BJP is expected to win 85 seats, Congress 113, JD-S 23 and others three, the poll said. 

In the 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka, a total of 2,615 candidates contested the polls.

In the 2018 assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats. The Congress won 78 seats and the Janata Dal (Secular) had 37. 

This election is much more significant as it is being held almost a year before the 2024 general elections. 

There were over 11.71 lakh first-time voters registered in the state.

The voting passed off in Karnataka with a turnout of 73.19 per cent, surpassing the 72.36 per cent recorded in 2018. 

The counting of votes for the Karnataka assembly elections 2023 will be held today, three days after the voting concluded to elect the 224 members of the state assembly.

Bengaluru police has clamped down restrictions on counting day to avoid untoward incidents. Section 144 will be imposed in the entire district from 6 am on Saturday to 12 am on Sunday, The New Indian Express reported. There will also be a ban on liquor sale in the Bengaluru police commissionerate region.

The battle for Karnataka begins at 8 am with the Bharatiya Janata Party looking to retain control of the state in the face of (what exit polls believe will be) a strong challenge from the Congress. Read more

The counting of votes for the 224-seat Karnataka assembly will commence on Saturday at 8 am.