Karnataka Assembly Election Results 2023: Congress-BJP In High-Stakes Contest As Counting On For 224 Seats. 10 Points

Karnataka election results 2023: Votes are being counted across 36 centres across the state.

Karnataka registered a record turnout of 73.19 per cent to elect representatives to the 224 member House.

Source : PTI

Karnataka Election Results 2023 Live: The counting of votes is underway across 36 centres for the Karnataka Assembly election 2023 conducted on May 10. The state with 224 assembly seats is seeing a three-cornered fight between the ruling BJP, the Congress and JD(S). With Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's government facing anti-incumbency, the opinion polls had given the Congress an edge. The electoral fortunes of Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar will be known soon, even as HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) is looking set to emerge kingmaker, as per early trends. 

Since morning, after the counting started, the Congress and the BJP appear to have been locked in a tight contest. Latest trends (9.20 am), however, showed the Congress getting majority with 128 seats, BJP with 77 and JDS with 17.   

1. Karnataka registered a record turnout of 73.19 per cent to elect representatives to the 224 member House.

2. Most exit polls predicted a hung assembly, showing a tight contest between the Congress and the BJP, though opinion polls had given the Congress an edge.

3. The JD(S) is hoping to play a role in government formation.

4. The ruling BJP is looking to make history by breaking a 38-year-old jinx as Karnataka has never voted back an incumbent party.

5. The Congress is hoping for a victory that will give it a big boost ahead of the three assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year, and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

6. In 2018, the Congress got a vote-share of 38.04 per cent, while the BJP bagged 36.22 percent and the JD(S) 18.36 per cent.

7. CM Bommai has said he is confident of a BJP victory. 

8. Congress's Siddaramaiah has said he is sure the party will cross the 120 mark. 

9. Speculation is rife that the parties have started backchannel talks for possible post-poll alliances.

10. In the outgoing assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, the Congress has 69, JD(S) 29, BSP one, and independents two, besides one speaker. Six seats are vacant following deaths and resignations.