Karnataka Assembly polls: Congress heads for a big win, CM Bommai admits defeat
Congress party office on the vote counting day of Karnataka Assembly polls, in Bengaluru, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Shailendra Bhojak)
Bengaluru: The exit poll predictions proved to be true in Karnataka as the trends indicate a big win for the Congress party in the state. The party is heading for a big victory as the counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly election is progressing. According to the Election Commission data, the party is leading in 130 seats while the magic number to form government is 113. The BJP is ahead in 66 seats and JDS has extended its lead to 22 seats. The Congress performed well in all regions across Karnataka except coastal region. The counting of votes began at 8 AM amid tight security.
As the party is maintaining comfortable lead, the party has asked all its MLAs to reach Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has admitted the party’s defeat. He said that the party would analyze the defeat and reorganize it for the Lok Sabha election scheduled next year.
“We have not been able to meet the mark despite a lot of efforts by everybody right from the Prime Minister to the workers. Congress was able to make it,” Bommai told reporters. “Once the results are out we will do a detailed analysis. As a national political party we will not only identify the gaps and shortcomings at different levels but also will take steps to improve it,” he said.
Central Karnataka, where Lingayat vote matters, leans towards Congress in postal ballot round. South Karnataka which contributes large chunk of seats and where JD(S) was considered strong, votes for Congress in postal ballot. Coastal Karnataka and Mumbai Karnataka mostly stay with the BJP.
State chief minister Basavaraj Bommai is leading in Shiggaon by over 20,000 votes. After 9th round he secured 55,465 votes while his rival candidate Congress’ Pathan Yasir Ahmed Khan got 1,307 votes.
KPCC president DK Shivakumar has won from Kanakapura constituency with huge margin.
Former chief minister M Siddaramaiah is leading in Varuna constituency. After 2nd round he secured 12,759 votes and V Somanna of BJP got 7,471 votes.
In Channapatna former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy is leading after 6th round by a narrow margin. He secured 28,166 and BJP’s CP Yogeshwara got 28,166 votes. Meanwhile, his son Nikhil
Mining baron G Janardhan Reddy is leading in Gangawati with. He secured 29,553 votes after round 7. His nearest rival is Iqbal Ansari of Congress who got 12,562 votes.
HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is trailing in Ramanagaram. While Congress candidate Iqbal Hussain got 53,282 votes, Nikhil got 38,982 votes.
Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge is leading in Chittapur constituency. After 11th round he got 52,709 votes and Manikanta Rathod of BJP secured 39,061 votes.
Minister B Sreeramulu of BJP is trailing in Bellari by a huge margin. After 8th round B Nagendra of Congress got 47,930 votes and Sreeramului secured 27,769 votes.
Minister Govind Karjol is trailing in Mudhol. After 8th round he got 29,913 votes whereas Congress candidate Timmappa Ramappa Balappa secured 40,103 votes.
JD(S) candidate Swaroop Prakash is leading in Hassan against BJP’s sitting MLA Preetham J Gowda.
After 7th round, Laxman Savadi is leading with about 25,000 votes against BJP’s Mahesh Kumathalli in Athani.
Savadi got 40,225 votes while Kumathalli secured 15,218 votes. In Hubli Dharwad Central Jagadish Shettar is trailing by over 10,000 votes. BJP’s Mahesh Tenginakai got 27,459 votes after 5th round whereas Shettar got 16,804 votes.
BJP minister V Somanna is trailing against Congress candidate Putttarangashetty in Chamarajanagar segment. Somanna is also trailing in Varuna against Siddaramaiah. BJP minister Araga Jnanendra is leading in Thirthahalli against Congress candidate Kimmane Ratnakar.
Record turnout
The voting passed off peacefully in Karnataka with a voting turnout of 73.19 per cent, surpassing the 72.36 per cent recorded in 2018. A total of 737 Theme-based and ethnic Model Polling stations were set up. At 239 Polling stations set up in the state, voters were greeted by PwD staff.
As part of the initiative of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to inspire young voters to participate in the festival of democracy, 286 Polling Stations set up were managed by the youngest available staff. There were over 11.71 lakh first-time voters registered in the state.
Significant State elections ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha Polls
This Assembly election carried much significance as it was held almost a year before the 2024 general elections. Apart from the magic figure of 113 seats out of 224 Assembly seats, here is what you need to know ahead of the counting. The counting will be held in 36 centres across the State. A clear picture of the result is likely to emerge by noon.
2018 statistics
In the 2018 assembly elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats, followed by the Congress with 78 seats and the Janata Dal (Secular) with 37. This time in the 224 Assembly constituencies, a total of 2,615 candidates contested the polls.
The fiercely contested election that saw high-pitch campaigns from the political parties is crucial for both BJP and Congress. Hectic electioneering by leaders of various political parties saw BJP allowing Union Ministers and Chief Ministers to campaign with their full force.
The Congress on the other hand worked hard to wrest power from the BJP that is striving to break the 38-year-old pattern of alternating governments and retain its power in the state.
Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, held various roadshows, rallies and elections campaigns. An incumbent government has not returned to power in Karnataka after a full term of five years since 1985.
