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PremiumAfter a high-voltage campaign, Karnataka is set for the mega battle of ballots. Voting is currently underway for 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka with 2,615 candidates in the fray. According to the Election Commission of India, the majority mark to form the government is 113 seats. A total of 42,48,028 new voters have been registered to vote for the assembly election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for high voter turnout in Karnataka, meanwhile, the Congress party urged voters to ‘vote wisely’.
A voter turnout of nearly 72 per cent was recorded in the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday where the ruling BJP, a combative Congress and the JD(S), which is hoping to be a kingmaker in the event of a hung assembly, are locked in a cliffhanger contest.
Karnataka is likely headed for a hung Assembly as indicated by three prominent exit poll agencies, while others have favoured the Congress with a slight advantage and HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal (Secular) playing a kingmaker. At least five exit poll results have predicted a clear majority for the Congress in the Karnataka Assembly election 2023. The majority mark in the 224-seat Assembly is 113. Read More
A voter turnout of nearly 70% was recorded during Karnataka Legislative Assembly Elections of Wednesday. The exit polls declared after the results are pointing towards a hung assembly with Congress predicted to get the highest number of seats, followed by BJP and JD(S).
Catch all LIVE updates on Karnataka Assembly election 2023 exit poll results
Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates:Former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath on Wednesday exercised his franchise in Kuvempunagar on the day of the Karnataka assembly elections.
The ongoing Assembly polls would decide the electoral fates of 2,615 candidates across parties. In what turned out to be a high-decibel campaign phase, the incumbent BJP, Congress and the JDS went at each other and pulled out all stops and their heavyweights to woo voters.
Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates:JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said that his party is expected to take a "hit" in up to 25 Assembly segments, where it had chances of winning, due to financial crunch, in the Karnataka elections held on Wednesday.
Despite financial constraints, his party will be ahead of Congress and BJP in terms of winning the number of seats, the former Chief Minister claimed, as he asserted that his party will be 'King' and not just the 'King maker'.
Karnataka Election LIVE Updates: Voter turnout picked up momentum and crossed the 50 per cent mark by 3 pm on Wednesday, in polling to elect representatives to the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates: In the eight hours of voting, which began at 7 am, Ramanagara recorded the highest turnout of 63.36 per cent, while the the lowest polling was seen in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) South limits (parts of Bengaluru city) at 40.28 per cent, election officials said.
Karnataka Election 2023 Exit LIVE Updates: Most of the opinion polls have projected victory of Congress in the southern citadel. The outcome of the Karnataka election will be out on 13 May (Saturday) . Read more
Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE: Several celebrities didn't forget to cast their votes. From Rishab Shetty to Prakash Raj, others snapped at the Karnataka Assembly Elections.
'Kantara' fame Rishab Shetty came in his traditional attire to cast a vote. Prakash Raj cast his vote and shared his views, "We've to vote against communal politics. We need Karnataka to be beautiful," Prakash Raj said after casting his vote. Kannada actor Ganesh arrived with his wife to cast their votes at a polling booth in RR Nagar, Bengaluru.
Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE: Villagers of Masabinala in Vijayapura district stopped a poll duty vehicle carrying electronic voting machines (EVMs), manhandled an officer and damaged control and ballot units on Wednesday following which 23 people were arrested, the Election Commission said. The villagers stopped a section officer's vehicle which was carrying reserved EVMs for the Assembly elections and damaged two control and ballot units each and three VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail), the EC said in a statement.
Karnataka Elections LIVE updates: Like Ramji ‘s Sena win the war of Lanka for Prabhu Sri Ram , the Sena of Booth Committee workers & Page Pramukhs are winning the battle for Modiji in every Booth, tweets BJP leader BL Santhosh
Kannada actor Dhruva Sarja cast his vote in Bengaluru today.
First time voters and the elderly stole the show as they were seen participating in the voting process enthusiastically in the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday. And they were not small in numbers. According to Election Commission (EC) officials, as many as 11.71 lakh were eligible to exercise their franchise for the first time.
Issues are individuals and one should keep their issues in mind and vote accordingly. I've not come here as a celebrity, I've come here as an Indian and it's my responsibility," says Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep after casting his vote in Bengaluru
At the time when some members of the HakkiPikki tribe from Karnataka were stuck in Sudan & BJP govt was trying to evacuate them, Congress in view of elections in the country started creating a ruckus about it & risked lives of these tribals by identifying them in Sudan...Chup chap lana tha...Congress thought that one of the members of this community might get harmed in Sudan and this would give them an advantage in the elections. But Congress forgot that Modi can cross any limit for the safety of every Indian: PM Modi in Mt. Abu, Rajasthan
While the BJP has said that the saffron party will form the government in Karnataka, Congress says it is the grand old party that has got the edge in the polls.
In the Karnataka Assembly election 2023, the state has recorded a voter turnout of 37.25 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm. In the first six hours of polling, which began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm, the coastal district of Udupi recorded the highest turnout of 47.79 per cent, with the the lowest polling in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) central limits (parts of Bengaluru city) at 29.41 per cent, election officials said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, IT industry veteran N R Narayana Murthy along with wife Sudha Murty, and Mysuru royal family member 'Rajamate' Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, were among the early voters who cast their ballots for Karnataka elections 2023.
Senior Congress leader G Parameshwara, and ministers including R Ashoka, Araga Jnanendra, C N Ashwath Narayan and K Sudhakar also exercised their franchise in the initial hours of polling. (Read here)
Sons of veteran Kannada actor Ravichandran - Manoranjan and Vikram cast their votes
An elderly man on crutches arrives at a polling booth in Bengaluru's JP Nagar to cast his vote for Karnataka Assembly Election 2023
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, IT industry veteran N R Narayana Murthy along with wife Sudha Murty, and Mysuru royal family member 'Rajamate' Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, were among the early voters who cast their ballots.
Siddalinga Swamiji, seer of the Tumakuru-based Siddaganga Mutt; actor Ramesh Arvind, senior Congress leader G Parameshwara, and ministers including R Ashoka, Araga Jnanendra, C N Ashwath Narayan and K Sudhakar exercised their franchise in the initial hours of polling.
Karnataka Congress president and party's candidate from Kanakpura, DK Shivakumar drives an auto in the constituency.
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and his wife Radhabai Kharge cast their votes at a polling booth in Kalaburagi.
The highest voter turnout was recorded at 30.26% in Udupi till 11 am today, the EC said. Early trends also indicated massive turnout from the region.
Till 9 am, the voter turnout in the region was over 13%.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Central: 19.30% voter turnout
BBMP (North): 18.34%
BBMP (South): 19.18%
Bagalkot: 23.44%
Bangalore Rural: 20.23%
Bangalore Urban:17.72%
Belgaum:20.76%
Bellary: 23.56%
Dakshina Kannada: 28.46%
Udupi: 30.26%
Bijapur: 20.66%
Davanagere: 21.32%
Uttara Kannada: 25.46%
Tumkur: 22.06%
An approximate 20.99 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am in the Karnataka Assembly elections which are underway on Wednesday, as per the Election Commission.
The state recorded an approximate voter turnout of 7.83 per cent till 9 am.
The voting for the southern state began at 7 am on Wednesday amid tight security and will continue till 6 in the evening.
The highest voter turnout was recorded at 30.26 per cent in Udupi till 11 am today, the EC said.
Voting is being held for 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka with 2,615 candidates in the fray.
Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday came out to vote with his family for Karnataka elections 2023. Later he tweeted, 1 first time voter , 2 veteran voters from my family - in the long line to vote in BTM Layout, Bengaluru
A senior citizen on Wednesday came out to vote sitting in a wheelchair. BJP leader Tejasvi Surya, who later interacted with the woman, tweeted, “This senior citizen is an inspiration for all of us to go out and vote"
For BJP, staying in power could be hard, with the party's popularity hit by corruption allegations and the opposition Congress party campaigning hard on promises of free electricity and rice for the poor.
Political scientist Sanjay Kumar said that while a loss in Karnataka would be a blow to the BJP, it offered little indication of how the BJP would perform nationwide in 2024.
"Whether the party wins an election or loses an election, they just look forward to the next election," Kumar told AFP.
Karnataka records 20.9% voter turnout Till 11am, NDTV report said
"We are requesting people to bless JDS candidates to get proper development. Our party will going to be a King," says Former Karnataka CM & JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy after casting his vote
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "...Congress party will win the election with a thumping majority...We will get more than 130-135 seats."
Bride and groom along with their family cast their votes for Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 at a polling booth in Mysuru
"No chances, we will form the government on our own," says Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar when asked about the possibilities of a post-poll alliance with JDS
"There is a tremendous response from the voters. I will get more than 60 % of the votes. Congress will form the government on its own. I am not going to retire but I will not contest elections. This is my last election," says Former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah after casting his vote
Former cricketer Javagal Srinath on Wednesday cast his vote at a polling station in Mysuru for Karnataka elections 2023.
He later said, "...I request people to come, vote & choose a good leader for good democracy. I also voted...We must participate in democracy..."
Prakash Raj on Wednesday cast his vote in Karnataka Assembly Elections at St Joseph's School in Shanti Nagar, Bengaluru."We've to vote against communal politics. We need Karnataka to be beautiful," Prakash Raj said after casting his vote.
Several actors also cast their votes today.
Amulya and her husband cast their votes at a polling booth in RR Nagar, Bengaluru. Ganesh, his wife, and actor Ramesh Aravind arrived at a polling booth in RR Nagar, Bengaluru to cast their votes.
Former Karnataka CM and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy casts his vote along with his family for Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 at a polling booth in Ramanagara
Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday cast his vote and later he took to Twitter to share photo of the same. He said in a tweet, on the occasion of the Karnataka Assembly Election 2023, I cast my vote today in Hubli with my family at Vivekananda Nagar Rotary School, Nagashettikoppa and exercised our right to vote.
Congress workers were seen putting garlands on LPG gas cylinders and burn incense sticks around it in several areas. Tweeting about it, Congress said, Kannadigas have caught on to the pre-voting ritual trend.
A voter turnout of 8.26 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of polling in Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections on Wednesday, according to Election Commission data.
The highest percentage was in the coastal district of Udupi (13.28 per cent) and the lowest in Chamarajanagar district (5.75 per cent) till 9 am.
Former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday cast his vote for Karnataka polls and later claimed that the grand old party will come into power in the state by winning the majority votes
"I've been constantly saying that Congress will get 130 plus seats, it may go up to 150 seats also," says Former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah
“I request the voters to vote for the party which works. The future of this country is also involved in this election."
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya casts his vote for Karnataka Elections 2023 at a polling booth in Bengaluru
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter and BRS MLC K Kavitha on Wednesday, without mentioning any party, asked Karnataka voters to cast the ballot for development and prosperity.
"Dear Karnataka, Reject Hatred! Vote for development, prosperity & well-being of the society and the people," she said in a tweet.
Voting for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Karnataka began at 7 am today.
Though the BRS toyed with the idea of contesting the Karnataka polls, it decided not to go ahead as its friendly party JD(S) is in fray and also there was lack of sufficient time for preparation ahead of election, BRS sources had earlier indicated.
Former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy earlier attended the event related to name change of TRS to BRS last year.
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai says, "I am 100% confident that we will come back with a comfortable majority."
Jagadish Shettar, former Karnataka CM and Congress candidate from Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency cast his vote on Wednesday for Karnataka polls 2023.
"Very good response from the people. There is an undercurrent. People from all castes, everybody is working and voting for me. Congress & Jagadish Shettar will get elected with a huge margin," he later said
Speaking on the Bajrang Dal ban row, he said, "It is not a debatable question. I have already said on so many occasions that banning of any org, if it is against the Constitution, the power is vested in the Union Govt & not the State Govt."
