Karnataka election results 2023: Counting of votes begins

The BJP failed to break the jinx of it never crossing the majority mark in Karnataka on its own and the 38-year-old trend of incumbent parties losing elections.

When asked about the possibility of Rahul Gandhi becoming the PM, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “We went to the people with a few guarantees and we have to fulfill them. We have to work for the people. The public will tell us what will happen next.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Congress on its victory in Karnataka and wished them the best to fulfill the political aspirations of the people.

Canvassing for the BJP, PM Modi carried out mega roadshows in the state with high-voltage speeches accusing the Congress's "Shahi Parivar (royal family) of calling for Karnataka's secession and inciting foreign powers.

He said that the "tukde-tukde gang disease" was high in the Congress.

Rajasthan CM and Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot said, "In all upcoming elections-Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, they (BJP) will learn a lesson."

The Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while it also won the previous Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in 2018.

However, the Congress had a slim margin and in 2020, the BJP took down the wobbly government being led by Kamal Nath after 22 sitting Congress MLAs quit.

Now the Congress is faced with choosing the chief minister between Siddaramaiah and state party chief DK Shivakumar.

With Yediyurappa out of active politics, former CM Siddaramaiah is considered the tallest leader in the state.

On the other hand, Shivakumar has reportedly worked very hard as the party chief after the BJP unseated the Congress-JD(S) government.

Congress could decide on a power-sharing arrangement, with both leaders becoming the CM for two-and-half years each.

However, the power-sharing arrangement hasn't worked in Congress's favor in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and resulted in brief political crises.

The Congress convincingly won in 114 constituencies by crossing the required number of 113 seats to form a simple majority government.

It is leading on 22 seats while the BJP is a distant second by winning 51 seats and leading on 13 seats.

Hitting out at the BJP, Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said, “First we won Himachal Pradesh and then we won Karnataka. They used to speak of 'Congress mukt-Bharat' but now South India is 'BJP-mukt’.” To note, Chhattisgarh goes to polls later this year.

Congress candidate KC Veerendra Puppy won the Chitradurga seat with 60.11% or 1,06,477 votes by breezing past BJP’s GH Thippa Reddy who bagged 33.57% votes.

The Congress is looking at sweeping all eight seats in Chitradurga district.

Referring to the BJP's horse-trading and toppling governments, Siddaramaiah said there is no scope for 'Operation Lotus' as Congress has a comfortable majority.

Meanwhile, JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy accepted defeat saying, "I welcome the mandate of the people of the state. In a democratic system mandate is final. I accept defeat and victory with equanimity. However, this defeat is not final, my struggle will not stop, I will always be with the people."

Siddaramaiah thanked the Gandhi family and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, adding that he hoped Rahul Gandhi would become the Prime Minister.

He termed the Karnataka poll result a stepping stone to the next year’s Lok Sabha elections. He said he hoped that all Opposition parties come together to defeat the BJP.

Briefing the press, Congress veteran and former CM Siddaramaiah said that its a clear mandate and the poeple of Karnataka were fed up of the BJP government.

He added that the people of Karnataka are against the politics of hate. He hailed his party’s victory saying that it may cross 131 seats as well.

Congress candidate Vinay Kulkarni defeated BJP’s Amrut Ayyappa Desai in Dharwad constituency by gaining 53.92% or 89,333 votes.

Accepting the BJP’s defeat in the Karnataka polls, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “We respect and accept the verdict. We will contribute to our state and our people as a constructive opposition.”

Notably, the BJP came to power in the state in 2019 by toppling the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

Congress candidates NY Gopalakrishna wins in Molakalmuru constituency with 90,484 or 53.48% votes by drubbing BJP’s S Thippeswamy who secured 43.4% votes.

Congress candidate T Raghumuthy wins from Challakere constituency with 67,952 or 38.16% votes beating JD(S)'s Ravish Kumar M, who garnered 51,502 votes.

Incumbent CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bomai said, “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.”

Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel expressed confidence that the Congress is winning a comfortable majority.

He said, "Karnataka election result is as per our expectations. PM sought votes by keeping himself in the front. So, this is Modi's defeat."

Congress candidate Laxman Savadi, a BJP turncoat, has gained a significant lead in Athani constituency with 30,509 votes against BJP’s Mahesh Kumathalli.

Congress stalwart and former Madhya Pradesh CM, Kamal Nath said that the party has performed well in the Karnataka polls and will form the government.

He alleged that the BJP will indulge in horse-trading and will try to strike a deal with the MLAs of other parties and independent candidates.

JD(S) second-in-command and former Karnataka CM, HD Kumaraswamy is leading on Channapatna seat against BJP leader and former Karnataka minister CP Yogeshwara.

Meanwhile, Congress's Jagadish Shettar is trailing behind BJP's Mahesh Tenginakai by 23,000 votes in Hubli Dharwad Central.