Karnataka poll results: Congress secures majority in Karnataka Assembly Elections, BJP concedes defeat

Bengaluru, May 13: The Congress party has secured a majority in the Karnataka assembly elections by crossing the halfway mark of 113 seats. With 128 seats in their favour, they are well ahead of the BJP, which is leading on only 68 seats. Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai has already conceded defeat and announced a detailed analysis of the results. The electoral fortunes of several key leaders, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy, among others, were at stake in these elections.

Former CM Jagadish Shettar, who quit the BJP after being denied the opportunity to contest in the May 10 polls for the 224-member Assembly, was trailing in Hubballi-Dharwad Central by 2,614 votes. He was fielded there by the Congress.

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As Congress emerged victorious, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai conceded defeat and stated that his party will reorganize itself and return for the Lok Sabha elections. "Despite the best efforts by PM Modi and cadres, we were not able to make a mark. 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," he said.

In the Karnataka assembly, a party needs to win 113 seats to form the government. The Congress has already secured a majority by winning 128 seats. The BJP, on the other hand, is leading on only 68 seats, conceding their defeat in the elections.

The Congress is expected to have a clear edge in Karnataka in the assembly elections held on May Friday, with four exit polls giving it a full majority and some predicting a hung assembly with an advantage to the party. In such circumstances, the JD(S) can play the role of a kingmaker.

However, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday said that he has not been contacted as yet for the formation of the government in case of a cliffhanger, adding that he is hoping for a good show.

Speaking to the media ahead of the counting, Kumaraswamy cited the exit polls which predicted nearly 30-32 seats to JD(S) and a clear edge to the Congress party with some even predicting a majority for the grand old party and said that according to the predictions, there is no need for him to explore options. "In the next 2-3 hours, it will become clear. Exit polls show that the two national parties will score in a big way. The polls have given 30-32 seats to JD(S). I am a small party, there is no demand for me...I am hoping for a good development," he said.

The exit polls, which were released after the polling ended in Karnataka, predicted that Janata Dal-Secular JD(S) would not touch the 37 seats it won in the 2018 polls but will continue to be a strong regional player in the state. If Karnataka throws up a hung assembly, the JD-S could emerge in the role of kingmaker.

The fiercely contested election saw high-pitched campaigns from the political parties and is crucial for both the BJP and the 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 election campaigns. An incumbent government has not returned to power in Karnataka after a full term of five years since 1985. The final results are expected to become clear in the next few hours, and the fate of the Karnataka Assembly polls will be decided soon.

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