Bengaluru,UPDATED: May 13, 2023 23:47 IST
By Nabila Jamal: Even as Congress has registered a thumping win in Karnataka, its Jayanagar MLA’s victory remain uncertain even till late Saturday night as the Election Commission officials forced for multiple rounds of re-counting by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Amid tight security measures, both groups of supporters at the Jayanagar counting centre are joyously celebrating, with chants echoing throughout the premises.
After counting of votes for the third consecutive time, Congress leader Sowmya Reddy was declared winner by mere 160 votes. However, BJP candidate CK Ramamurthy and MP Tejasvi Surya insisted for yet another round of counting.
A video shows some BJP leaders, including Ramamurthy and Tejasvi Surya, sitting outside counting centre. Heavy police force was deployed outside Election Commission office to avoid clashes between the two groups.
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According to sources, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar has rushed to Jayanagar and a complaint has also been filed with the Election Commission regarding the same.
Meanwhile, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that Congress has lost the Jayanagar constituency, however its leaders were holding up the EC officials and not letting them issue certificate.
At the time of filing of this report, the ECI website showed Sowmya Reddy leading on the seat with 294 votes.
Earlier in the day, the poll body ordered recounting of postal ballots in Jayanagar constituency in Bengaluru where Congress candidate is in close contest with BJP’s Ramamurthy.
Of the total 224 seats in Karnataka, Jayanagar is the only segment where the result has not yet come out.
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The Congress on Saturday emerged victorious in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly polls held on May 10, by winning 135 seats, the Election Commission of India said. According to EC website, the BJP bagged 65 and JD(S) – 19 seats.
Two independent candidates also won in the election. Apart from it, Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.
