Karnataka Election Result: CLP authorises Mallikarjun Kharge to choose next Karnataka CM

The Congress Legislature Party has unanimously decided to leave the selection of the Congress Legislature Party leader to the decision of the AICC President

With Congress snatching away Bharatiya Janata Party's last citadel in South India in the recently concluded Assembly elections, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh tried explaining why people voted for Congress, rather than a ruling government.

According to Ramesh, people in India, and especially Karnataka, are tired of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi and his campaigns. Despite the number of roadshows, PM Modi did, people were not enthusiastic, claimed Ramesh.

"People are tired of PM & his campaign, no matter how many roadshows he did...but people were not enthusiastic...", said Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications.

Citing other reasons for BJP's failure in Karnataka Assembly Results 2023, Ramesh said the saffron party should refrain from mixing Bajrang Dal and Bajrang Bali.

READ MORE HERE.

Outgoing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday wished "all the best" to Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar, who are in the race to become the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. 

The newly-elected Congress MLAs in Karnataka are meeting here this evening to discuss government formation with leaders eliciting their views on the Chief Ministerial candidate. Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D K Shivakumar are strong claimants and front-runners for the coveted post.

 "I wish both of them all the best," Bommai told reporters. (PTI)

Speaking to the media, KPCC chief DK Shivakumar said, “Some people say that I have differences with Siddaramaiah but I want to clear that there is no difference between us. Many times I have sacrificed for the party and stood with Siddaramaiah ji. I have given cooperation to Siddaramaiah.”

He added, “This Mutt is a holy place for me. Swamiji has always guided me. Swamiji Gave me complete guidance even when the Income Tax raids took place. I asked for 134 seats and I got more than that.”

Attacking Basavaraj Bommai for taking responsibility of Karnataka Election defeat, Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said that the entire Karnataka election was fought on PM Modi's face, and the responsibility of defeat should be given to PM Modi.

"The entire Karnataka election was fought on the face of PM Modi and now he (Basavaraj Bommai) is taking responsibility for defeat which should be given to PM Modi," Bhupesh Baghel told ANI.

Karnataka Assembly Election Result 2023: Ahead of Congress Legislative party meeting today, party leaders Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Bawaria and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh were made the observers in Karnataka by AICC. Observes will be present in the party meeting and will sumbit the report to the party high command.

After the victory of Indian National Congress in Karnataka, the Basavaraj Bommai said state president Nalin Kateel will not resign from position. He also said that the party has accepted its defeat humbly, and its not PM Modi's defeat.

“The state president Nalin Kateel will not step down. Today, some MLAs were present at the state BJP office. We accepted our defeat humbly. This is not PM Modi's defeat, he is a national leader. The Congress leadership has lost in the entire country,” Basavaraj Bommai told ANI

Karnataka Assembly Election Result 2023: Ahead of Congress MLP meeting several party leaders met Siddaramaiah in Bangalore on Sunday. The list of politicians includes Dinesh Gundu Rao, Rizwan Arshad, Puttaranga Shetty C and Satish Jarkiholi, etc.

Karnataka Assembly Election Result 2023: After Karnataka Assembly Election Result, not only DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, but MB Patil and G Parameshwara are also interested in becoming the next CM, said Karnataka Congress working president Ramalinga Reddy. He further said that amibitions will always be there but the party's high command and MLA's will make final decision on CM post.

“In eevery party, ambitions will be there. Not only DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah even MB Patil and G Parameshwara are also interested. Only one will become CM & the party's high command & MLAs will decide that. I will get minister (post),” Ramalinga Reddy, Karnataka Congress working president told ANI.

Karnataka Assembly Election Result 2023: Post celebration of Indian National Congress' victory in Karnataka, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, said laid out the things to be focused by Congress ahead. 
He said “winning election is tough and winning people's hearts is tougher”. He also asked the party to stay open, honest, non-discriminatory for next five years.

“Winning elections is tough, Winning people’s hearts is tougher ! For the next 5 years. Win people’s hearts.By being : open, honest, non-discriminator. BJP lost for not being any of this!” he tweeted on Sunday.

Karnataka Election Result 2023: Congress leader, Siddaramaiah's supporters put up posters outside his residence claiming him to be “the next CM of the state for the second time.”

Amid growing pressure among Congress leaders to decide the next CM face, Siddaramaiah's supporters burnt fire crackers outside his residence and pasted posters claiming 'he will be taking oath as Karnataka Chief Minister for the second time.

Karnataka Assembly Election Result 2023: After a mind-boggling victory of Indian National Congress in Karnataka, battle for the next CM has intensified. There are chances that the party will find out a middle-path to ease the situation between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

Congress may strike a deal between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for shared terms of five years. (Read full report here)

BJP candidate won Jayanagar constituency election against Congress rival Soumya Reddy by a slender margin of 16 votes. The vote counting at the constituency was marred by protest allegations and what not! (Read our full report here)

To express their demand of making DK Shivakumar as the next CM of the state, Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar's supporteers put up a poster outside his residence in Bengaluru. The poster demanded his selection as the next CM of the state.

After registering a remarkable victory in the Karnataka state assembly elections, Congress will hold meeting with its MLAs on Sunday. The meeting will also lead to the announcement of next CM of Karnataka.

Karnataka Assembly Election Result 2023: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Mahesh Goud expressed his confidence that the Karnataka assembly polls will impact the Telangana elections this year along with Lok Sabha 2024 elections.

"The results in Karnataka will definitely have a bearing on Telangana elections scheduled this year and 2024 look Sabha polls. People in Karnataka have taught a good lesson to people seeking votes in the name of caste, community and even in the name Sri Ram and Bajrang,"he told ANI.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farrooq Abdullah on Saturday said that the people of Karnataka “rejected politics of hatred and accepted the politics of love.” 

“I want to congratulate the people of Karnataka for rejecting the politics of hatred and accepting the politics of love,” he told ANI.

"I congratulate each and every worker of the Congress party. I congratulate Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress's top brass for this victory. They all worked very hard during campaigning. We should promote the politics of love," Farooq added,

Karnataka Assembly Election: After BJP's defeat in Karnataka, Tripura CM Manik Saha on Saturday said victory and defeat are part of a democratic process. He also added that the party will now look into the gaps that led to its defeat and take corrective measures.

“Victory and defeat are part of the democratic process as one party will go and another will come back...People allege democracy doesn't exist in the country… If this is the ground reality then how come the Congress comes back to power in Karnataka,” Saha said.

Karnataka Assembly Elections Result 2023 proved many of the exit polls and predictions wrong with the clear cut victory of Indian National Congress in the state. 

On one hand, when most of the exit polls missed their mark in predicting a majority government of Congress in Karnataka, some of them got that aspect right.

Interestingly, senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar's prediction of his party winning 141 seats in an interview with PTI, was the closest to the actual result.

In terms of exit polls, India Today-Axis My India predicted a clear cut majority for the grand old party with 122-140 seats and gave the BJP 62-80 seats. The poll predicted 20-25 seats to the JD(S).

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023: After the remarkable victory of Congress in Karnataka Assembly polls, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday said that one has to accep the verddict of the people in democracy. He also added that the BJP has accepted the mandate of the southern state.

 "We tried our best to make a double-engine government in Karnataka. We worked very hard. Our government did a lot of work in Karnataka. The state received the largest foreign direct investment. Development skyrocketed under our governance in the state. But in a democracy, you have to accept every decision of the people," he told ANI.

Karnataka Assembly Election Results 2023: This time, Indian National Congress improved its vote share by more than four per cent across different regions of Karnataka. With this, its tally of seats went beyond 130-mark.

To what can be called one of the thinnest margins of victory in Karnataka Assembly Election 2023, Congress rival Soumya Reddy lost the race by 16 votes from BJP CK Ramamurthy. 

"The result was announced by the officials at the Counting Centre at S S M R V College in Jayanagar late tonight," a state Information Department official said in a statement on Saturday.

Citing the narrow victory margin, Ramamurthy had demanded recounting of votes, reported PTI.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took a jibe on BJP's ‘double engine’ slogan and said that it is good governance and not a ‘double engine’ government that can help a party win election. 

“Single engine or double engine does not matter. From people’s point of view, governance is important. Good governance and pro-people governance always win,” he commented at the celebration by BJD, after its candidate's win at the Jharsuguda by-poll on Saturday.

Accepting the Karnataka Assembly verdict, Bhartiya Janata Party leader and State minister CN Ashwath Narayan said that the party will work hard to come out with stronger in 2024 elections. He also said that in 2024 elections, they will ensure that all our candidates win from all the 28 seats.

"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 the 2024 elections, we want to ensure that all our candidates win from all the 28 seats," he said.

The huge mandate won by the Congress in Karnataka valodates the party leader Rahul Gandhi's hard work and this was evident during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Karnataka have taught a befitting reply to the BJP, which had toppled the Congress in the state, he added.

"The people of Karnataka taught a befitting lesson to the BJP in this election. The BJP does it (topple governments) in every state. They did it in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra," he said.

"I have tendered my resignation and it has been accepted," says BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai

"Those who wanted to make 'Congress Mukt Bharat' (Congress-free India) spoke many things against us but today one thing has come true and that is 'BJP Mukt Dakshin Bharat' (BJP free South India)," Kharge told a press conference.

Kharge cautioned the Congress leaders, saying they should work with all humility and remain grounded.

“Congress has 137 legislators as our ally Darshan Puttannaiah won from Melukote seat. I've been told that Puttaswamy Gowda, an independent candidate, has also extended his support to Congress party. So now we have 138,” said Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge distributed 'Nandini' brand sweets to party leaders as the party celebrated its victory.

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with top leaders of the party from the State. Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah were present at the meeting held at Kharge's residence.

“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 Kannadiga,” said Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC in-charge of Karnataka.

"I want to congratulate the people of Karnataka for rejecting the politics of hatred and accepting the politics of love," says NC chief Farooq Abdullah

“The most important thing is that the politics that attempts to divert people's attention and doesn't speak of public issues will not work anymore in this country. We saw this in Himachal and Karnataka. People want discussion on their issues and a solution to the same..,” said Priyanka Gandhi

“Shri Rahul Gandhi ji, Heartiest congratulations for this significant victory! Just as Gandhiji, you walked your way into people's hearts and as he did you demonstrated that in your gentle way, you can shake the powers of the world -with love and humility. Your credible and creditable approach, without bravado or chest-thumping has ushered a breath of fresh air for the people. You trusted the people of Karnataka to reject divisiveness, who in turn have unitedly reciprocated by placing their faith in you. Kudos for not just the victory but also for the manner of victory!” the actor-politician tweeted.

“The people of Karnataka have spoken and the results are clearly in favour of the Congress. However, I am surprised at the outcome. We gave good governance to the people and did all we could to win. However, we need to be humble and need to accept the people's verdict, which has gone against us. We'll assess what cost us the polls. We'll discuss and debate,” Narayan told ANI.

“Congratulations to the Congress Party for their victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. My best wishes to them in fulfilling people’s aspirations,” he wrote.