Karnataka Live Election Results Highlights: The Congress has won 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly. The BJP has won 66 seats and the JD(S) 19, according to the Election Commission. Counting of votes in Karnataka began at 8 AM across 224 Assembly seats of Karnataka. Earlier in the day, welcoming the leading trend and the seats won, Congress leaders in Kerala unanimously termed it an indication of the anti-BJP public sentiment and the success of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and his fight against the saffron party’s alleged divisive and communal politics.
After high drama, BJP candidate C K Ramamurthy was declared the winner in the Jayanagar Assembly seat in Karnataka by a slender margin of 16 votes against his Congress rival Soumya Reddy on Saturday. The elections to 224 Assembly seats in the state was held on May 10 and the polled votes were taken up for counting on Saturday. Ramamurthy was declared the winner with a thin margin of 16 votes.
Karnataka Election Results 2023: The Congress party won a clear majority and is all set to form a new government in the southern state, ousting the BJP from power.
In the 2023 Karnataka Elections, Congress bagged 135 seats, BJP 66 and JDS 19 seats.
"I take responsibility of this defeat," says outgoing CM Basavaraj Bommai after submitting his resignation to the Governor. The Congress won comfortably securing 135 seats so far.
Outgoing CM Basavaraj Bommai arrives at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru to submit his resignation to the Governor.
In the Jayanagar Assembly seat, high drama was witnessed. KPCC president DK Shivakumar reaches.
The Congress party has swept to power in Karnataka bagging 126 seats in wins and leads combined. As per current Election Commission data, the party has won 125 seats and is leading on another seat. The BJP has own 65 seats, the JD(S) 19 and Others 4.
"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," says Amit Shah.
"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 Kannadig," says Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC in-charge of Karnataka.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, whose son Priyank Kharge won from the Chittapur seat, addresses the crowd.
"I thank all those who have supported us in the Karnataka elections. I appreciate the hardwork of BJP Karyakartas. We shall serve Karnataka with even more vigour in the times to come," tweets PM Modi.
"Congratulations to the Congress Party for their victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. My best wishes to them in fulfilling people’s aspirations," tweets PM Modi
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "I congratulate the people of Karnataka.
The Congress has won 117 seats as against the BJP which has won 53 seats, while the Janata Dal (Secular) has won 53 seats.
"We have won, and now we have to work. I don't want to criticize anybody," says Kharge in Karnataka.
"We contested Karnataka polls with love, not hate; 'nafrat ka bazaar closed down', 'mohabbat ki dukaanein' have opened," says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi addresses people in New Delhi.
"I want to thank all people of Karnataka, and workers of the Congress party".
"I want to congratulate and thank them."
Overcome with emotions, Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar broke down while reacting to the Assembly elections results and gave credit to the Gandhi family for reposing their faith in his leadership in the State.
Congress leader Priyank Kharge, son of Mallikarjun Kharge, won from the Chittapur Assembly seat in Karnataka. So far, the Election Commission of India 129 leads, and BJP on 63 seats. Out of six seats result declared so far, the Congress has won in four, and BJP in two.
"It is a mandate against Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda. PM came to Karnataka 20 times; No PM in the past campaigned like this," says Siddaramaiah.
"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," says Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
"I credit my party cadre and all my leaders,” says DK Shivakumar.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai statement:
Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said the party will take the results in its stride and analyse and work on its deficiencies.
"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," Bommai said.
The Congress is leading as of 122 seats as of 12: 14 PM, according to the Election Commission of India website.
"The atmosphere which was visible in Karnataka during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is clearly visible in the election results of Karnataka today. Under the leadership of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Congress leaders did a great campaign. Karnataka has chosen the politics of development by rejecting communal politics. This will be repeated in the upcoming Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana assembly elections as well," says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.
According to the Election Commission of India, the Congress has crossed the majority mark.
Congress will win with over 120 seats, says former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah in Mysuru. He is contesting from the Varuna seat by over 5,000 votes.
Congress workers prepare for celebrations in Karnataka.
As of 11:27 AM, the Congress is leading on 118 seats, and BJP on 73 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.
Dr. BS Ajaikumar, Executive Chairman of HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd (HCG), said change is good in a democracy.
"Looks like there is going to be a change of guard this time in Karnataka. This is always good in democracy. The only hope is that spotlight is put on eradication of corruption and on building Bangalore’s road infrastructure. There is mass migration of labour happening in Karnataka from rural areas to urban centres and there is a crying need to encourage industrialisation in rural areas between Mysore and Ooty, bordering Tamil Nadu with almost no industrial activity, high poverty, poor water supply and Infrastructure," he told FinancialExpress.com.
The 2018 elections did not give a clear majority to any single party. The BJP which had 104 MLAs in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly had won 104 seats, while the Congress won 80 seats and JDS had got 37 seats. The Congress and JDS had come together and formed the government with HD Kumaraswamy as the CM. However, in a year, the government collapsed as Congress-JDS lost 17 MLAs who switched to BJP. The BJP has since then been in power in the state. In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, followed by the Congress 69, JD(S) with 29 MLAs.