Karnataka Election Result 2023 LIVE: Congress Crosses Majority Mark, Wins 114 Seats; BJP Concedes Defeat

Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that the whole election campaign was about the issues of Karnataka.

"We didn't make it a national election, we made this election for Vidhan Sabha. Congress' win is PM Modi's decisive defeat. This is because except for PM Modi, there was no other face."

"The issues we raised were related to the state. But BJP made the election campaign like a referendum for PM Modi. JP Nadda said that if you give a vote to Congress PM Modi's blessings will not be with you. The campaigning by PM Modi was totally rejected by the people of Karnataka," he further added.

Congress so far has won 108 seats and is leading on 28, meanwhile, BJP won 50 seats and is leading on 14.

In an apparent reference to Bharatiya Janata Party's impending defeat in the Karnataka elections, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that now the BJP will not conduct Assembly polls in the Union Territory any time soon.

Taking to Twitter, the National Conference leader said, "Now there is no way BJP will have the courage to allow Assembly elections to take place in Jammu and Kashmir any time soon #KarnatakaElectionResults."

Karnataka minister and BJP's winning candidate from Malleshwaram, CN Ashwathnarayan called the defeat of the saffron party a 'setback' and said, "This is a setback for us in Karnataka. We accept the verdict of the people. We will work much stronger and seek the blessing of the people and come out with flying colours. When it comes to 2024 elections, we want to ensure that all our candidates win from all the 28 seats."

After securing a historic win in the Karnataka elections 2023, Congress leader and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said, "People will teach them a lesson. In all upcoming elections-Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, they (BJP) will learn a lesson."

After winning from Kanakpura constituency, Congress president DK Shivakumar collects his certificate.

Karnataka Education Minister, BJP leader BC Nagesh trailing from Tiptur assembly constituency by a margin of 17,652 votes. 

According to the Election commission, Congress is at 137 as it leads in 101 seats and wins 36 seats. BJP leading in 45 seats, wins 17 seats.

"We have won, and now we have to work. I don't want to criticize anybody," emphasis Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on the party's win in Karnataka.

"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," says Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

"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," says BJP leader BS Yediyurappa on the party's defeat in Karnataka Election Results.

Congress wins 10 seats, leads in 126 constituencies. BJP continues to lead in 60 seats.

"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.

"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," he says.

According to the Election Commission, Congress vote share increases to 43 per cent as the party wins 4 seats, leads in 129 other seats. Meanwhile, BJP's vote share dwindles to 35.8 per cent as the party leads in 64 seats.

Congress party crosses 120 mark, leads in 121 seats while BJP is at 72 seats.

BJP's Mahesh Tenginkai continues to lead, Congress leader Jagadish Shettar trails in the Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency.

BJP General Secretary CT Ravi trailing from Chikmagalur Assembly constituency.

As Election Commission undertakes counting of votes, trends of all the 224 Assembly constituencies declared. Congress surges ahead in 119 seats, BJP in 72 seats and JDS in 25 seats.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot says, "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 majority to the Congress."

Congress workers celebrate as party leads in Karnataka Assembly polls results.

As per the Election Commission of India, Congress leads in 85 seats, BJP in 62 seats while the JDS is leading in 18 seats. Independents leading in 2 seats.

Congress asks all its MLAs to reach Bengaluru today as the counting of votes in Assembly elections continue.

"Primary agenda of the BJP is good governance," says BJP leader and former union minister DV Sadanand Gowda.

BJP leads in Bhatkal and Congress leads in Chamarajanagar, as per Election Commission at 0835 hours.

BJP's V Somanna trailing in Chamarajanagar constituency

"As of now, it seems to be a neck-to-neck fight but we will be able to form the govt," says BJP spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam on initial trends in Karnataka Assembly Election 2023

NDA: Leads on 80, Trails on 33
UPA: Leads on 107, Trails on 6
JDS: Leads on 31, Trails on 82

As counting of votes for Karnataka assembly election gets underway, early trends show BJP leading in 84 seats, Congress in 101, and JD(S) in 14.

Early trends for Karnataka assembly election results show BJP leading in 87 seats, Congress in 74, and JD(S) in 19.

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

"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," says Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, in Hubballi.

Congress workers celebrate at the Congress office in Delhi ahead of the counting of votes for the 224 seats in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections held on May 10.

The counting of votes in the crucial Karnataka Assembly election begin across 224 constituencies.

Chikmagalur is also among the key electoral battlegrounds in Karnataka where the BJP is eyeing a win. The saffron party has fielded its national general secretary CT Ravi from this seat, who was talked up as a potential CM candidate by none other than party stalwart KS Eashwarappa.

Channapatna is another key electoral battleground in Karnakata this year, with JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in a direct contest against BJP's Yogeshwara and Congress's Gangadhar. Both his rivals are from the powerful Vokkaliga and are seen as formidable opponents.

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

Security beefed up outside Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's residence in Hubballi as the state holds counting of votes for the Assembly election.

The security arrangements have been tightened ahead of counting of votes for the 224 seats in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections held on May 10. Police personnel in high numbers deployed at Mount Carmel College and St Joseph's College counting centres in Bengaluru.

In Varuna Assembly constituency, senior Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah faces BJP minister V Somanna and JDS' Bharathi Shankar.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has won three consecutive times from the Shiggaon constituency looks to retain his seat.

The Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities are among the prominent groups that hold sway in the Karnataka Assembly elections. The Lingayats account for 17 per cent of Karnataka's population. The Vokkaligas account for 11 per cent of the state's population. 

As the counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections are set to take place today, here are the key constituencies to watch out:

- Varuna
- Kanakapura
- Shiggaon
- Hubli-Darwad
- Channapatna
- Shikaripura
- Chittapur
- Ramanagara
- Chikmagalur

Counting of votes for the 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka to begin at 8 AM. A total of 2,615 candidates are in the fray.

The Karnataka Congress held a party meeting in Bengaluru ahead of the counting of results. Speaking to the media after the meeting, party chief D K Shivakumar says, "We are just doing our job. Let's wait for the results."

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 on Friday 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., as quoted by the news agency ANI.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made a slew of promises in its manifesto for Karnataka polls released on Monday including implementing the Uniform Civil Code and National Register of Citizens and providing three free cooking gas cylinders to BPL families annually.

The saffron party made 16 top promises in its "Praja Pranalike' 2023.

The party has also promised to set up 'Atal Aahara Kendra' in every ward of every municipal corporation to provide affordable, quality and healthy food to people.

Amid the ongoing speculations about the post-poll alliance in Karnataka amid chances of a Hung Assembly, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday claimed that the Janata Dal (Secular) will "disintegrate" after the Karnataka assembly election results on Saturday and said there was no scope for a coalition government with HD Kumaraswamy's party.

Section 144 will be imposed in Bengaluru on May 13 to ensure the peaceful counting of votes. Also, the sale of alcohol in the Bengaluru Police Commissionerate region will be restricted from 6 am on Saturday to 12 am on Sunday.

Notably, Congress is expected to have a clear edge in Karnataka as four exit polls give it a full majority and some predict a hung assembly with an advantage to the party.

However, a few exit polls also said that BJP is ahead in the sweepstakes to form the government.

Congress's Karnataka president DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said he did not believe in the exit poll results, which predicted a hung Assembly while putting his party ahead, adding that they will cross the 146-seat mark.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party would secure an absolute majority and return to power for a second term to form government in the southern state.

Speaking to ANI, Yediyurappa said, "I am 100 per cent confident that the BJP will secure an absolute majority and form the government".

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday held a key meeting with top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from the state a day before the counting of votes.

A day before the counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday held a key meeting with top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from the state.

Polling was held across 58,545 polling stations to elect the members in the 224-seat Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Chickaballapur district that saw the highest polling recorded voter turnout at 76.64 per cent.

As the election ended on Wednesday, the overall voter turnout till 5 pm was recorded at 65.69 per cent, informed the Election Commission of India (ECI).

KARNATAKA Assembly Election 2023 results are all set to be announced tomorrow, i.e., May 13. The elections were held on May 10. There are as many as 224 constituencies in the state.

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