Karnataka Election Highlights: Karnataka recorded a voter turnout of 72.67 per cent in the Assembly elections, which is slightly above the previous polls in 2018. Several pollsters have predicted that the Congress may have an edge in Karnataka, which is BJP’s southern citadel, in a hung assembly with a couple of them even projecting that the grand old party may get a majority on its own. According to an Election Commission release late last night, the voter turnout stood at 72.67 per cent, excluding the postal ballots and home voting. Chikkaballapur district registered the highest voter turnout at 85.83 percent followed by Ramanagaram at 84.98 per cent, it said.
While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break the 38-year jinx — the State has never voted the incumbent party to power since 1985 — and tighten the grip on its southern stronghold, the Congress is seeking to wrest power to give the party the much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 parliamentary polls. Also what needs to be seen is, whether the JD (S) will emerge as a “kingmaker” or a “king” by holding the key for government formation, in the event of a hung verdict, as it has done in the past.
Karnataka Elections 2023 Voting Highlights: The prominent candidates in fray are Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, BJP leaders CM Basavaraj Bommai, BY Vijayendra, Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Kumaraswamy.
A total of 65.69 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in Karnataka.
Vokkaliga mutt leader Nirmalananda Swamiji casts his vote in Nagamangala.
A total of 52.03 per cent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in Karnataka Assembly elections.
Former Prime Minister HD Devegowda casts his vote.
Several were reportedly injured after a clash broke out between BJP and Congress workers at a polling booth in Ballari.
In the Karnataka elections, voter turnout was recorded at 37.25 per cent till 1 PM.
A new bride and groom along with their family cast their votes in Mysuru.
Kannada actor Daali Dhananjaya and his family cast their votes in Kalenahalli Village of Arsikere.
State minister and BJP candidate from Tiptur assembly constituency, BC Nagesh and his family cast their votes in Tipatur.
"Karnataka which is the land of Bajrang Bali will answer all these things on 13th May. We welcome DK Shivakumar and Congress party offering prayers to LPG cylinders, we are happy that Congress is doing some kind of puja at least," says BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.
"We are requesting people to bless JDS candidates to get proper development. Our party will be going to be a King," says Former Karnataka CM & JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy after casting his vote. He is contesting from the Channapatna seat.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who arrived to cast his vote in Varuna constituency a short while ago, said he was fully confident of the Congress returning to power in the elections.
"I have voted and done my duty towards democracy. This time I will be winning with record margin, and so is the BJP going to win record number of seats," said Bommai. He is contesting from the Shiggaon seat.
"I am fully confident that Congress will come back to power," says former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, ahead of casting his votes.
KPCC President DH Shivakumar casts his vote in Bengaluru.
The Election Commission said that the voter turn out was recorded at 8.21 per cent till 9 AM.
Union Minister and BJP MP from Dharwad constituency, Pralhad Joshi, arrived at a polling booth in Hubballi to cast his vote. He said, "I'm happy that people are celebrating this festival of democracy in a big way. People are interested to bring BJP's double-engine govt. BJP will form govt on its own."
KPCC president DK Shivakumar says that the Congress party will form government.
Union Minister & BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje arrives at a polling booth in Bengaluru to cast her vote.
Karnataka minister and senior BJP leader Narayana Gowda voted at a polling booth in Mandya, ANI reported.
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy vote at a booth in Bengaluru a short while ago. After casting his vote, talking to media, Murthy said that ,"First, we vote and then we can say this is good, this is not good but if we don't do that then we don't have the right to criticise."
G Parameshwara, ex-Deputy CM and Congress leader, voted at a polling booth in Tumakuru's Siddharth Nagar, reports ANI.
Philanthropist Sudha Murthy, who voted at a poll centre in Bengaluru's Jayanagar, said that youngsters must learn from the 'oldies'. The Padma Shri winner, who is married to Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, said that 'voting is a sacred part of democracy...'
Karnataka Minister CN Ashwath Narayan casts his vote at a polling booth in Bengaluru. The BJP candidate from Malleshwaram constituency, CN Ashwathnarayan says,"...BJP has been a people's party and it represents all sections. In the background of globalisation, we need to have a party which is strong enough to represent the people across the globe..." (ANI)
"We've to vote against communal politics. We need Karnataka to be beautiful," says Actor Prakash Raj after casting his vote for Karnataka polls.
Former Karnataka CM and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa visits and offers prayers at Sri Huccharaya Swami Temple in Shikaripur, along with his family. His son, BY Vijayendra is contesting from the Assembly constituency.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman casts his vote in Bengaluru.
Kannada actress Amulya and her husband cast their votes at a polling booth in RR Nagar in Bengaluru.
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Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and his family cast their votes in Thirthahalli for the Karnataka Assembly polls.
Karnataka Minister and BJP leader K Sudhakar casts his vote for at a polling booth in Chikkaballapur. Voting will conclude at 6 PM.
The Election Commission said enforcement agencies in the state seized over Rs 375 crore worth of liquor, drugs and freebies which was 4.5 times more than what was recovered during the last assembly election in the state. It said that increased focus on expenditure monitoring was the reason being the seizures, which included freebies such as sarees, 'food kits', pressure cookers and kitchen appliances. The Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth Rs 288 crore after the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct on March 29 in the state.