Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 Highlights: Shivakumar Reiterates Crossing 146 Seats, Bommai '200% Confident' Of BJP's Win
ABP-CVoter Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 Highlights: Stay tuned on ABP Live for the complete coverage of Karnataka Exit Poll Results 2023.
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ABP-CVoter Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 Highlights: Hello and welcome to ABP Live for the Exit Poll results coverage of the Karnataka Assembly Election 2023. Has Congress been able to recapture the ground in the southern state or will BJP be able to break the wheel and retain the state? All questions will be answered on May 13 when the counting of votes will take place.
Ahead of the counting, ABP News in partnership with CVoter brings you the Exit Polls to showcase the trends in Karnataka. Stay tuned on ABP Live for the complete coverage of Karnataka Exit Poll Results 2023.
Assembly elections in Karnataka were held today, May 10, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aiming to retain its southern stronghold while the Congress seeks a comeback in the state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. For the 224 legislative assembly seats in what is primarily seen as a three-cornered contest between the BJP, the Congress, and Janata Dal (Secular).
The electoral fate of prominent figures including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress veterans Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, among others, has been sealed during the day-long voting process. The counting of votes will take place on Saturday, May 13.
The ruling BJP aims to break the 38-year trend of not reelecting the incumbent party since 1985, solidifying its hold. The Congress, on the other hand, seeks to regain power and establish itself as the main opposition force ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections.
The JD(S) holds the potential to emerge as a "kingmaker" or even a "king" if a hung verdict occurs, as it has done in the past.
Key candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from Shiggaon, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah from Varuna, HD Kumaraswamy from Channapatna, and DK Shivakumar from Kanakapura.
Other notable contenders include former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar from Hubli-Dharwad Central, who recently joined the Congress after leaving the BJP.
During the campaigning, all political parties emphasized the need for a "government with full majority" to ensure a strong and stable administration.
In the 2018 elections, no party secured a clear majority, leading to a Congress-JD(S) coalition government. However, the coalition collapsed in 14 months, leading to BJP's return to power.
With BJP currently holding 116 MLAs in the outgoing Assembly, followed by Congress with 69 and JD(S) with 29, the Assembly elections in Karnataka will significantly impact the political landscape of the state.
Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 Live: Will Come Back To Power With Absolute Majority, I am 200% Confident, Says Bommai
I am very much confident that we will come back to power with an absolute majority, I am 200% confident. Exit polls are done in a hurry, and there will be lots of errors. There is no question of anybody becoming the kingmaker, for me the people are the kingmaker and they will bring BJP back to power, says Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai
Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 LIVE: Stand By My Numbers That We Will Cross 146 Seats, Says Shivakumar
My first reaction is that I don't believe these numbers (exit polls). I stand by my numbers that we will cross 146 seats. People are highly educated and are looking at larger interests because the double engine has failed in Karnataka. The situation will not arise (to form alliance with any party), says Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar.
Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 LIVE: Rajyavardhan Rathore 'Confident' Of BJP's Win
"I am confident that people of Karnataka will bless the BJP. These are just exit polls, the results will be very favourable to the BJP," says party MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 LIVE: BJP Expecting Clear Majority, Says Party Spokesperson RP Singh
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson RP Singh says his party "will get a clear majority and form the government."
Karnataka Exit Poll 2023 LIVE: Congress Exudes Confidence, BJP Also Sure Of Getting Majority
"The way several exit polls are showing the Congress seat share increasing, I think Congress is going to form government in Karnataka," says Congress spokesperson Alok Kumar, reports PTI.