Karnataka Election Result 2023: Congress' Jagadish Shettar Trails In Hubballi - Dharwad Central By Over 13,000 Votes

The EC numbers at 11 am suggested that Shettar is trailing by 13,835 votes, while BJP candidate, Mahesh Tenginakai is leading in this constituency.

Congress' Jagadish Shettar Trails In Hubballi - Dharwad Central

New Delhi: Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is trailing in Hubli-Darwad Central by over 13,000 votes against BJP's Mahesh Tenginkai, as the counting for the 224-member assembly in Karnataka is underway. 

The EC numbers at 11 am suggested that Shettar is trailing by 13,835 votes, while BJP candidate, Mahesh Tenginakai is leading in this constituency.

Shettar's reputation is at stake after he filed for nomination as the Congress candidate after the BJP denied him a ticket. Notably, Shettar won on a BJP ticket three times in the 2008, 2013, and 2018 elections from this seat.

To give a tough fight, Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Mahesh Tenginakai as its candidate, while JDS had chosen Siddalingesh Gowda Mahanthavadeyar.

Mahesh Tenginakai has secured 33,005 votes, Jagadish Shettar got 19,170 votes, and Siddalingesh Gowda Mahanthavadeyar got 234 votes so far.

According to the early trends of the Election Commission, the Congress party is leading in most constituencies in the state. The Congress is leading at 121 seats and the BJP is leading at 68 seats. The JD(S) too is leading at 26 seats.

The intense battle between rival parties BJP and Congress has left everyone eagerly awaiting the outcome, as the possibility of a hung assembly looms. The results will reveal the electoral fortunes of key leaders such as Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy, among others.

The counting process began at 8 am across 36 centres throughout the state. Election officials anticipate a clearer picture of the results to emerge by mid-day. The voting on May 10 witnessed a "record" turnout of 73.19 per cent, as citizens cast their votes to elect representatives for the 224-member Assembly.

Exit polls have indicated a close competition between the Congress and BJP, causing leaders from both parties to feel anxious about the outcome. Meanwhile, the JD(S) appears to anticipate a hung verdict, which could provide an opportunity for them to play a role in government formation. The majority of pollsters have given a slight advantage to the Congress, while also acknowledging the possibility of a hung Assembly in the state.

Having banked on the Modi juggernaut, the ruling BJP is looking to break a 38-year-old poll jinx where the people have never voted the incumbent party to power, while the 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 elections.

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.

Like it has been the trend for about the last two decades, Karnataka witnessed a three-cornered contest, with a direct fight between the said parties in most of the constituencies.