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PremiumVoting for Karnataka assembly polls 2023 concluded on Wednesday evening. While some exit poll agencies predict a hung Assembly, others indicate a slight advantage for the Congress with HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal (Secular) playing a key role.
The results for the three-cornered contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda's JD(S)will be announced on Saturday, 13 May.
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Section 144 has been imposed in capital city of Karnataka, Bengaluru on the eve of vote counting for the crucial assembly elections.
The Bengaluru police has clamped down restrictions on counting day to avoid untoward incidents. Section 144 will be imposed in the entire district from 6 am on Saturday to 12 am on Sunday.
According to reports, there will also be a ban on liquor sale in the Bengaluru police commissionerate region.
According to the Election Commission (EC), Karnataka recorded a 73.19 per cent voter turnout in the May 10 assembly elections, the highest-ever voter turnout in the southern state.
Polling was held across 58,545 polling stations to elect the members in the 224-seat Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The majority mark needed to form the government is 113.
Explaining the reason behind his confidence of getting 141 seats, Congress leader DK Shivakumar said he has been on the ground and has done his homework well.
According to Shivakumar, who is a Congress candidate from Kanakapura constituency, the verdict will be in favour of the Congress despite the money spent by the BJP and their big leaders campaigning in the election.
"Whatever money the BJP people have splurged, whichever big leaders may have campaigned and toiled here, yet the ballot is stronger than the bullet," Shivakumar said.
He also ruled out the possibility of a hung assembly and said the voters did not get scared of money and the misuse of the 'double-engine BJP government'.
"I am confident that by 1 pm tomorrow, the verdict will be out. There will be no hung assembly," he added.
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian antional Congress, and Janata Dal (Secular) are also said to have contacted some independents who have chances of winning the polls, to get them on their side, keeping in mind the possibility of a fractured verdict.
A day before counting of votes polled in the Karnataka Assembly elections, both the ruling BJP and the Congress on Friday went into huddles and held strategy sessions on ways to keep the flock together. They also considered reaching out to independent candidates who are likely to win, as most exit polls predicted a tight contest between the two parties.
BJP leaders too are said to have planned a strategy to keep its newly-elected legislators together, and are making attempts to contact independents, mostly BJP rebels, as well as "winning" candidates of smaller parties.
JD(S) too is expecting a hung verdict, which would enable it to play a role in government formation, and is making all efforts to keep its MLAs together.
With exit polls giving Congress an edge over the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly elections, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the BJP will come to power with a "comfortable majority" as he was confident with the party's ground reports.
"All the exit polls predicted that Yogi Adityanath will not come back but he came back in Uttar Pradesh. Last time, they (exit polls) predicted only 80 seats for BJP and 107 for Congress but it came reverse... We are confident with our ground reports and we will come with a comfortable majority," Bommai told ANI on Thursday.
"We are more concerned about the five guarantees, we are discussing about the structure of their implementation," says Congress leader Gourav Vallabh a day ahead of Karnataka Assembly election results.
In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, followed by the Congress 69, JD(S) 29, BSP one, independents two, speaker one and vacant six (following deaths and resignations to join other parties ahead of the polls).
The BJP had in 2018 emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by Congress with 80 seats and JD(S) 37. There was also one independent member, while the BSP and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) got one legislator each elected.
In the 2018 elections, the Congress garnered a vote-share of 38.04 per cent, followed by the BJP (36.22 per cent) and the JD(S) (18.36 per cent).
With no party getting a clear majority at the time and as Congress and JD(S) were trying to forge an alliance, B S Yediyurappa of the BJP, which was the single largest party, staked claim and formed the government. However, it was dissolved within three days, ahead of a trust vote, as the saffron party strongman was unable to muster the required numbers.
Subsequently, the Congress-JD(S) alliance formed the government with Kumaraswamy as CM, but the wobbly dispensation collapsed in 14 months, triggered by the resignation of 17 ruling coalition legislators and their subsquent defection to the BJP.
This enabled the BJP's return to power. In the bypolls held subsequently in 2019, the ruling party won 12 out of 15 seats.
However, in 2021 BS Yediyurappa gave way to BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai to lead the state government
-Bharatiya Janata Party
-Indian National Congress
-Janata Dal (Secular)
-Other parties
-Aam Aadmi Party
-Bahujan Samaj Party
-Communist Party of India (Marxist)
-National People's Party
-Communist Party of India
-Nationalist Congress Party
-All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
-Social Democratic Party of India
-Uttama Prajakeeya Party
-Karnataka Rashtra Samithi
-Sarvodaya Karnataka Party
It is to be noted that no pre-poll alliance among the parties have been announced yet.
It also remains to be seen whether former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) will emerge as a "kingmaker" or a "king" by holding the key to government formation, in the event of a hung verdict, as it has done in the past.
On the eve of the Karnataka Assembly Elections, Congress Karnataka President claimed that the Indian National Congress will win at least 141 seats in the 224 seats Karnataka Assembly, the elections for which were held on 10 May.
Shivakumar junked the exit poll results in which the party, though it gains the highest number of seats, has to contend with a hung Assembly.
The ruling BJP is banking ont he PM Modi juggernaut to break the 38 year old poll jinx where the people have never voted the incumbent party to power.
Meanwhile, Congress is hoping for a morale booster victory to give it a much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha election
Notably Karnataka has never voted an incumbent government back to power since after 1985
Janata Dal (Secular) national spokesperson Tanveer Ahmed on Friday said that they have already decided which party they would support in forming the government after the results are declared.
Speaking to ANI, Ahmed said, "We have already decided with whom we are going to form the government. We will announce it to the public when the appropriate time comes."
The key candidates in the fray for the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 are
-Basavaraj Bommai (BJP) - Shiggaon:
-Siddaramaiah (Congress) - Varuna
-DK Shivakumar (Congress) - Kanakapura
-HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) - Channapatna
-Nikhil Kumaraswamy (JDS) - Ramanagara
-CT Ravi (BJP) - Chikmagalur
-Jagadish Shettar (Congress) - Hubballi-Dharwad-Central
-G Parameshwara (Congress) - Koratagere
-V Somanna (BJP) - Varuna and Chamrajanagar
-R Ashoka (BJP) - Kanakapura
Number of seats: 224
Previous ruling government: BJP formed govt after the Cong, JD(S) coalition failed 14 months after coming to power. The state government was intially helmed by BS Yediyurappa, who later resigned, giving way to Basavarj Bommai to lead the state government
Incumbent government: According to available data, post-1985, Karnataka has never re-elected the incumbent
The counting will begin at 8 am on 13 May in 36 centres across the state, and poll officials expect a clear picture about the outcome is likely to emerge by mid-day.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the State, especially in and around the counting centres, to avoid any untoward incidents
The Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 will seal the deal for either Congress, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (Secular) in the governing position for the next five year.
The polls have been termed crucial as the result of the Karnataka has been helmed as one of the precursors to understanding the fate of BJP as the Central Ruling party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
Counting of the votes polled for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls will be taken up on Saturday.
The electoral fortunes of top leaders-- Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy, among many others will be known on Saturday
BJP leaders meet at Yediyurappa's residence and Chief minister Basavraj Bommai met at BS Yediyurappa's residence on Friday.
On the eve of the crucial election results that will determine the government for the state that houses the silicon valley of India, BJP leaders have shown complete confidence to coming back to power.
BJP leaders expressed confidence about the saffron party crossing the "magic figure" with a clear majority, and said the question of coalition talks with other political parties does not arise now.
Speaking on the exit poll predictions, Congress leader Shivakumar said “Exit polls have their own theory. We don't go by those samples, my sample size is too high."
Earlier, Shivakumar said the poll outcome would decisively be in favour of his party and there will be no such situation, which might warrant them to consider post-poll alliances.
After H D Kumaraswamy's party Janata Dal Secular (JDS) stated that it has received interest from Congress and BJP amid hung assembly predictions in Karnataka, Congress president DK Shivakumar said, “I do not know about JD(S), let them take their own call. I don't have any backup plan, my only plan is that Congress party will come to power."
Regarding the possibility of any alliance, Senior JD(S) leader Tanveer Ahmed told NDTV on Thursday, "The decision is done. It's taken. We will announce it to the public when it is right time to."
“Both (BJP and the Congress) have tried reaching out to us... The JD(S) is in such a position today that parties would like to reach out to us," said Tanveer Ahmed. (Read here)
The counting of votes polled for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls, which witnessed a fierce fight between archrivals BJP and the Congress, besides the JD(S) will be taken up on Saturday as the parties are waiting with bated breath to know their fate over the possibility of a hung assembly.
The electoral fortunes of top leaders-- Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy, among many others will be known on Saturday. The counting will begin at 8 am in 36 centres across the state, and poll officials expect a clear picture about the outcome is likely to emerge by mid-day.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the State, especially in and around the counting centres, to avoid any untoward incidents, official sources said. The State registered a "record" turnout of 73.19 per cent in the voting on May 10, to elect representatives to the 224 member Assembly.
The Election Commission of India dismisses Congress’ concerns about EVMs used in Karnataka having been deployed in South Africa, which does not even use EVMs.
ECI asks Congress to ensure such sources of false information with serious potential of rumor-mongering are publicly exposed and brought to justice. ECI says Congress specifically knew that only newly ECIL-produced EVMs are being used in Karnataka.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday ruled out the possibility of an ‘Operation Lotus’, saying the BJP would get 120 to 125 seats and return to power.
The term 'Operation Lotus' was coined several years ago by the opposition Congress and the JD(S) in the state referring to some alleged attempts by the BJP earlier to "poach opposition MLAs" when it failed to get a majority on its own.
Karandlaje said the "primary reports" obtained post elections suggest that the party was getting 120 to 125 seats.
Asked whether the BJP would need to resort to 'Operation Lotus', she said, "Absolutely not. Have faith. No situation will arise for any sort of 'Operation Lotus'. This time the people of the state will vote for the development of the state and will give a majority government."
Following the 20.99 per cent voter turnout in Karnataka till 11am, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy criticised the turnout, stating that people should not expect 100 per cent from the government if they could not take some time to show up and vote.
“If we do not spend 0.1-0.2 per cent of our time to come here and stand in the queue to vote, how can we expect others to spend 100 per cent of their time towards the progress and development of Karnataka? First, we have to fulfil our obligation, and that gives us the right to sit down, discuss and debate issues," Murthy said in a statement to PTI.
The Janata Dal Secular led by HD Kumaraswamy stated that they have been approached by both the Congress and the BJP as exit polls indicate a potential hung assembly in Karnataka.
As reported by NDTV, although Kumaraswamy is currently in Singapore and not available for comment, a senior member of the party confirmed that they have already made a decision regarding their future alliance. (Read here)
Karnataka registered a voter turnout of 73.19 per cent in the Assembly polls which election officials on Thursday termed a record, while sharing the final figures.
Voting took place on Wednesday to elect representatives to the 224-member House.
"Karnataka has created a new record for itself. Final voter turnout for Karnataka Election 2023 stands at 73.19 per cent," said the Chief Electoral Office, Karnataka.
While Chikkaballapura district recorded the highest voter turnout of 85.56 per cent, followed by Bengaluru Rural at 85.08 per cent; the lowest was in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) South limits (parts of Bengaluru city) at 52.33 per cent, the official data showed.
"Largely peaceful voting in all 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, and no repoll indicated in any of the 58,545 polling stations," the Election Commission (EC) said on Wednesday night.
HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular told NDTV both Congress and the BJP reached out to them as most exit polls predicted a hung assembly in Karnataka.
"The decision is done. It's taken. We will announce it to the public when it is right time to," senior JD(S) leader Tanveer Ahmed told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
However, BJP has denied the claims
Nalin Mehta, a political scientist and the author of a new book about the BJP, said the state elections are a “high-stakes prestige contest" for both parties.
Karnataka will ultimately offer helpful lessons to Modi about what works with voters, Mehta said, as quoted by Bloomberg. “The outcome of this contest will influence much of the political discourse on the road to the 2024 national polls."
Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said that instead of focussing on “exit or entry" polls, one should wait for the people's verdict and exuded confidence that the BJP will form the government in Karnataka. Assembly elections were held in Karnataka on May 10 and the votes will be counted on May 13.
“No entry poll or exit poll…see people’s poll and on the basis of public poll, I am confident that BJP will form the government in Karnataka," Scindia told reporters when asked about the outcome of elections in the southern state.
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".
Yeddyurappa's response came after exit polls predicted Congress's edge over the BJP in Karnataka polls.
The BJP leader refuted any possibility of a hung assembly.
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday rejected the Congress' claim that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls were previously deployed in South Africa and asked the party to bring to justice "rumour-mongers" who targeted it with false information.
In a letter addressed to Randeep Singh Surjewala, the AICC in-charge of Karnataka, the EC said it had used new EVMs manufactured by Electronics Corporation of India Limited for the polls in the southern state.
The Congress had written to the poll panel on May 8, raising concerns and seeking clarification over the deployment in the Karnataka election of EVMs previously deployed in South Africa and that too, without going through the process of revalidation and re-verification.
"The concern arises from the fact that this Honorable Commission has deployed EVMs which were previously deployed for elections in South Africa. We have been informed of this by various sources including the fact all these EVMs have been received directly back from South Africa without going through the process of re-validation and re-verification by the appropriate software/mechanisms by the manufacturer i.e. ECIL as also certification by the EC. This puts in serious doubt the entire validation process of the EVM itself," Surjewala had said.
The poll panel asserted it never sent EVMs to South Africa. It also said the fact that EVMs are not used in elections in that country is easily verifiable through the website of Electoral Commission of South Africa.
"As such, there is no question of any machine being used by the EC in Karnataka Legislative Assembly election which had or could have been used in South Africa elections or for that matter anywhere in the world.
"All EVMs to be used in Karnataka elections, 2023 are new EVMs from ECIL. This fact is in full knowledge of INC," the poll panel said.
"The EC never imported EVMs from any country whatsoever," the poll panel wrote.
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday rejected the Congress' claim that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls were previously deployed in South Africa and asked the party to bring to justice "rumour-mongers" who targeted it with false information.
In a letter addressed to Randeep Singh Surjewala, the AICC in-charge of Karnataka, the EC said it had used new EVMs manufactured by Electronics Corporation of India Limited for the polls in the southern state.
Karnataka registered a voter turnout of 73.19 per cent in the Assembly polls which election officials on Thursday termed a record, while sharing the final figures.
Voting took place on Wednesday to elect representatives to the 224-member House.
"Karnataka has created a new record for itself. Final voter turnout for Karnataka Election 2023 stands at 73.19 per cent," said the Chief Electoral Office, Karnataka.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday expressed gratitude to the party workers for working relentlessly during the election campaign and hoped that their struggle will "definitely bear fruit", as the exit polls gave an edge to the grand old party.
"I have a special appeal to our party workers: You have left home and family to work for the election. Now take some time off and spend time with your parents, wife and children. Our honest struggle will definitely bear fruit. Thanks again and best wishes to you all," Siddaramaiah tweeted.
The Congress leader contested from the Varuna Constituency.
"...As per our ground reports, we are confident we will get comfortable majority...We will get an absolute majority, mark my words." CM Bommai told reporters on Thursday.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday offered prayer at Saundatti Shri Renuka Yellama Temple located in Belagavi ahead of the counting of the votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections that will take place Saturday.
With exit polls giving Congress an edge over the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly elections, State Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has that the BJP will come to power with a "comfortable majority" as he is confident with he party's their ground reports.
"All the exit polls predicted that Yogi Adityanath will not come back but he came back in Uttar Pradesh. Last time, they (exit polls) predicted only 80 seats for BJP and 107 for Congress but it came reverse... We are confident with our ground reports and we will come with a comfortable majority," Bommai told ANI on Thursday.
According to most exit poll projections, the Congress will finish ahead of the BJP but chances of a hung Assembly are high.
Karnataka recorded a voter turnout of 72.67 per cent in the Assembly elections, which is slightly above the previous polls in 2018.
Several pollsters have predicted that the Congress may have an edge in Karnataka, which is BJP's southern citadel, in a hung assembly with a couple of them even projecting that the grand old party may get a majority on its own.
According to an Election Commission release late last night, the voter turnout stood at 72.67 per cent, excluding the postal ballots and home voting.
Chikkaballapur district registered the highest voter turnout at 85.83 percent followed by Ramanagaram at 84.98 per cent, it said.
After the exit polls predicted Congress's edge over the BJP in Karnataka polls, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday hoped that the BJP will learn a lesson on May 13, the day on which the results of Karnataka Assembly elections will be declared.
Congress is expected to have a clear edge in Karnataka in the assembly elections held on Wednesday with four exit polls giving it a full majority and some predicting a hung assembly with an advantage to the party.
"The eyes of the entire country are fixed on Karnataka elections and on one side money is being distributed while on the other, there is a love of the people," said CM Baghel."I hope that the BJP will learn a lesson on May 13," added the CM."The blessings of lord Bajrangbali in Karnataka will remain with Congress because the deity punishes those indulged in injustice, oppression and corruption," CM Baghel further remarked.
Reacting to the ongoing ED actions, the CM said, "ED did not carry out the investigation without any predicate offence, but for the first time in the history of India, the agency here is doing it.""They (ED) are working as agents of BJP to please their masters and therefore, they are not following the rules and procedures," alleged CM Baghel.
Shivakumar, who was the Congress candidate from Kanakapura constituency, said the poll outcome would decisively be in favour of his party and there will be no such situation, which might warrant them to consider post-poll alliances.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, the Congress MLA said, “My first reaction (to the exit-poll projections) is that I don't believe these numbers. I stand by my assessment, that we will win more than 146 seats. People are knowledgeable and educated and have voted considering the larger interests of the state. The double engine has failed in Karnataka. Such a situation (which might prompt the Congress to go into a post-poll alliance) will not arise."
After voting for the Karnataka election 2023 concluded on Wednesday evening, most exit-poll agencies predicted a hung House in the state while putting the Congress ahead. This would be a big blow for BJP as it would lose the only southern state that it has in its kitty.
Experts are of the opinion that winning Karnataka would be the key to building a good head of steam ahead of the bigger battle in 2024 and going into the next general elections full of belief and conviction. While losing Karnataka would dent the BJP's claim of being a pan-India party, it would give the much need shot in the arm to the Congress as it eyes a revival in 2024 after a string of electoral reverses. (Read here)
“Exit polls are exit polls, they can’t be 100% correct. Information on the ground is that we are going to get a complete majority and form the government. I think we should wait till May 13," chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said
Nalin Mehta, a political scientist and the author of a new book about the BJP, said the state elections are a “high-stakes prestige contest" for both parties.
Throughout the campaign season, the BJP has touched on religious nationalism, for instance, a hot button topic that will likely color next year’s national ballot. The Congress party has vowed to ban organizations like the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu right-wing outfit with ties to the BJP. By contrast, Modi has mocked that idea, telling voters to voice their support for the organization when they enter polling booths.
Karnataka will ultimately offer helpful lessons to Modi about what works with voters, Mehta said. “The outcome of this contest will influence much of the political discourse on the road to the 2024 national polls."
The word ‘sovereignty’ was never used by Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji in her speech dated May 6, 2023 at Hubballi, Karnataka.
Since this has been erroneously reported - it is being deleted.
As polling for the Karnataka closed on Wednesday and exit poll projections flashed across television screens, the question that would have crossed many minds is would the eventual outcome in the southern state have a bearing on next year's Lok Sabha elections.
Most exit-poll projections predicted a hung House in Karnataka while putting the Congress ahead. Should these projections hold, the BJP will have lost the only southern state that it has in its kitty.
Karnataka sends as many as 28 members to the Lok Sabha, second only to Tamil Nadu at 39, and, losing the state would come as a setback for the BJP and its plans to extend its electoral footprint beyond Karnataka.
While losing Karnataka would dent the BJP's claim of being a pan-India party, it would give the much need shot in the arm to the Congress as it eyes a revival in 2024 after a string of electoral reverses.
Most political experts and pollsters are of the opinion that winning Karnataka would be the key to building a good head of steam ahead of the bigger battle in 2024 and going into the next general elections full of belief and conviction.
Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, their quintessential poll mascot, the BJP has been trying to woo the Christian community in Kerala as part of its long-term goal of making deeper electoral inroads in a state where it remains a fringe force.
While addressing a 'Vijay Sammelan' in the national capital after the BJP's thumping wins in Tripura and Nagaland, PM Modi outlined his vision for the party to entrench its foothold in Kerala by winning over the members of the Chrisitan community.
Again, in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the BJP's state chiefs -- Aannamalai and Bandi Sanjay -- have been waging aggressive campaigns against the ruling parties -- the DMK and the BRS -- in the hope of turning the tables at the next battle for the hustings.
Telangana is scheduled to go to polls later this year.
However, a loss in Karnataka would upset the BJP's long-term vision of making a deeper southern ingress and take them back to the drawing board ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections.
On the other hand, a victory in Karnataka would see Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge deliver a big-ticket electoral win to the high command, giving the grand old party a fresh burst of wind in its sails as it bids to turn the tables on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections.
With Karanataka also being his home turf, a win for the Congress would, in many ways, come as redemption for the octogenarian Dalit leader, who had previously lost the race for CM despite his party coming to power.
The campaign strategies adopted by the BJP and the Congress in Karnataka were like chalk and cheese. While the saffron party built its campaign around the larger-than-life image of PM Modi and its pet nationalism and Hindutva planks, the Congress focussed more on highlighting the bread-and-butter issues of the people, including price rise, inflation and 'unemployment'.
The Congress did commit what many saw as an electoral faux pas, promising to consider banning the Bajrang Dal in its manifesto for Karnakata, thereby giving the BJP an opening to reaffirm its Hindutva credentials and call out the former's "appeasement politics".
However, that apart, the Congress largely confined its campaign to local issues, avoiding a direct clash with PM Modi's formidable electoral stature that had proved disastrous for them in previous poll battles.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been using the Adani-Hindenburg row and the alleged Chinese intrusion as issues to target PM Modi and the Centre, harped more on inflation, unemployment and alleged corruption under the BJP rule during his campaign visits to Karnataka.
There are wheels within wheels in Indian politics and the outcome of the Karnataka polls on May 13 might signal a shift in the political headwinds going into the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
(ANI report)
