Karnataka Results 2023: Congress candidate Zameer Ahmed Khan is leading with a huge margin of 38,130 votes from the Chamrajpet, leaving behind BJP's Bhaskar Rao. Chamrajpet has been a Congress stronghold from where the party backed the three-time winning leader once again. Meanwhile, Bhaskar Rao was the former Bengaluru police chief. Counting is underway for the crucial Karnataka election which would set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. As per the Election Commission, the Congress has also crossed the half-way mark in early trends and celebrations have began at the Delhi office.
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 will commence 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.
During the vigorous and spirited campaigning that concluded on Monday, leaders from all political parties emphasized the need for a "government with a full majority." They aimed to secure a clear mandate and establish a strong and stable government, unlike the situation following the 2018 polls.
In the previous elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party, securing 104 seats, followed by the Congress with 80 seats and JD(S) with 37 seats. Additionally, there was one independent member, while the BSP and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) each secured one seat.