Karnataka election results updates: Congress leads with clear majority

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked those who supported BJP in Karnataka polls and said the party will serve State with even more vigour in times to come. Modi also congratulated Congress for victory in the Assembly polls and extended his best wishes to the party in fulfilling people’s aspirations.

The main race for top post is between Siddaramaiah, who served as Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018, and Congress state unit President D K Shivakumar.

Former CM of the state and last-minute defector to Congress has been humiliated by his one-time election agent Mahesh Teganikayi of BJP.

State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel has accepted defeat. He said, “We had done some good work under Yedyurappa and Bommai. We didn’t expect this result. We accept the defeat. As party president, I accept responsibility.”

The ministers in Bommai’s cabinet have performed poorly. Nearly 19 of 30 ministers from the Karnataka cabinet are either trailing or have been defeated in the elections.

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah has claimed the visits of BJP brass, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had no impact on the voters of the State. He said that the campaigning done by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge helped the party achieve victory. “The pada yatra increased the enthusiasm of party workers. This is a very important victory in the light of upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” he added.

He also thanked the people of the state and workers for the support extended by the state.

He says defeat of BJP in the state is precursor to the national polls scheduled in 2024.

“Strong campaigning done by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge helped us achieve victory, the pada yatra increased the enthusiasm of party workers. This is a very important victory in the light of upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” Siddu added.

“It is a huge victory for Congress Party, we may even cross 130 seats. The people of Karnataka wanted a change as they were fed up with the BJP government and anti-incumbency was strong,” says Siddaramiah.

Congress President Kharge said, “ Thank the people of Karnataka. We will send observers to (elect CLP leader). This is a victory of Janata Janardhan...They have rebelled against corrupt rule of BJP...Intelligent voters of Ktk have shown the way.”

Former BJP Deputy CM Lakshman Savadi, a Lingayat heayweight who rebelled against the saffron party, speaking to businessline after his victory in Athani said, “People have taught a lesson to those who practiced unprincipled politics.”

“Welcome the verdict of the people of the state. In democracy, verdict of people is ultimate. Welcome both victory and defeat equally. I will not stop fighting for the people. will be with them always. Thank the people who supported us,” he tweeted.

He thanks the Gandhi family for the faith reposed in him. “I had promised Cong President Mallikarjuna Kharge that I will deliver Karnataka and have done so.” He also thanked all party workers, office bearers and the people of the state.

He said that in spite of PM Modi campaigning, people didn’t get swayed. He thanked the people of Karnataka, and that the High command will decide who will be CM. Five guarantees of Congress helped the party, he added, and that anti-people policies of the State Government sealed BJP’s fate.

Earlier, Muniyappa’s daughter Roopkala had won from Kolar on a Congress ticket.

Reddy’s wife Lakshmi Arun loses from Bellary.

Congress candidate Iqbal Hussain wins. In 2018, Nikhil’s mother Anita from JDS had won this seat.

He becomes legislator for the ninth time.

Congress leaders including D K Suresh Congress MP from Bengaluru rural and KPCC President D K Shivakumar’s brother, celebrate at DKS residence in Sadashivanagar as results of party victories stream in from across the state.

92-year-old Shamanur Shivashankarappa wins from Davangere South, while Son S S Mallikarjun wins from Davangere North

He becomes a legislator for eight successive times, and did not campaign in the constituency after filing nomination. Revenue Minister R Ashoka, who contested against him, comes in third place.

Savadi joined Congress ahead of polls after BJP denied him a ticket. Savadi is a former Deputy CM of BJP and a Lingayat heavyweight.

He was earlier trailing.

Incidentally, the Congress candidate’s father B N Bachegowda is a sitting BJP MP.

Ironically in 2018, Bankar was the BJP candidate and Patil was the Congress candidate. However, Patil had crossed over to BJP during Operation Kamala.

He says Lingayat anger at mistreatment by BJP has singed the saffron party.

They are the sons of former CM Sarekoppa Bangarappa. In 2018 polls, Kumar from BJP had defeated Madhu, who was then contesting on a JDS ticket.

Supporters of DKS gather in front of his residence in Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru. They distribute sweets, chant ‘Ab ki baar, DK Sarkar’.

Party candidate Balakrishna is ahead of his JDS opponent by 2,800 votes at the end of the 9th round of counting

He is now a three-time winner.

Chief Minister Bommai has won from Shiggaon, but BJP is trailing across the State. Bommai is currently taking stock of the situation across the State with BJP leaders at his residence in Shiggaon.

Both are contesting on Congress tickets.

Ramesh and Balachandra from BJP leading, Satish from Congress has won

In what was seen as a grudge match, BJP’s rising Vokkaliga star and sitting MLA Preetham Gowda loses to Swarup of JDS. Former PM Deve Gowda had sworn to defeat Preetham in their family bastion.

Anand Singh had insisted that he doesn’t want to contest and forced BJP to give ticket to his son.

Congress leader and CM seat aspirant Siddharamaih said in Varuna, where he is leading constantly.

Gali Janardhan Reddy, controversial former minister contesting as independent, leads from Gangavati, while his wife Lakshmi Aruna contesting from Ballari against her brother-in-law Somashekara Reddy trails

He is a close confidant of CLP leader Siddaramiah and a former Minister

Ramalinga Reddy leads from BTM layout, while Sowmya Reddy trails from the neighbouring Jayangara constituency

Opposition Congress seemed to be on course to breach rival BJP’s lone southern citadel Karnataka, racing ahead towards the magic 113 figure to form a government on its own. The party marched ahead establishing a lead in 112 constituencies, while the BJP was leading in 74 segments, the latest Election Commission (EC) trends of counting of votes polled in the Karnataka Assembly elections showed.

Congress apprehensive of poaching

A Manju on JDS ticket from Arakalgud and son Mantar Gowda on Congress ticket from Kodagu. Both are leading in their respective constituencies

He was trailing so far.

The Congress leader is the oldest candidate in this election. Apprehensions over his age were expressed prior to polls.

The BJP candidate was trailing so far

Resort politics in Karnataka starts

Former CM B S Yedyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra of BJP is leading in Shikaripura by 8,715 votes against Goni Malatesh of Congress.

Senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal leads in Bijapur (Vijayapura) city against Congress’ Abdul Hameed Khajasab Musharif by 7,136 votes, according to The Press Trust of India (PTI)

Nikhil is a JDS candidate and grandson of former PM Deve Gowda

Of the three ‘Bellary’ Reddy brothers, both BJP candidates - Karunakara and Somashekara trailing. Only Gali Janardhan Reddy, contesting as an independent, is leading

Prominent Muslim face of Congress and former minister U T Khader now in the lead in Mangaluru

Former PM Deve Gowda had taken a public vow to have Preetham defeated and had campaigned extensively for his party candidate

He was earlier caught in the assembly porngate scandal

Interestingly, Kulkarni was barred by a court from entering Dharwad because of an ongoing case. His family campaigned for him instead.

Former home minister and senior Congress leader, K G George, seen as the Christian face of the party, leads in Sarvagnanagar