As the counting of votes began, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is one of the key candidates visited the Hanuman temple in Hubballi. Bommai on Friday had exuded confidence and said that BJP will return to power in the state. With most exit polls predicting a tight contest between the Congress and BJP, leaders of the two parties seem "jittery" over the outcome, while the JD(S) appears to be expecting a hung verdict, which would enable it to play a role in government formation. On Friday, the CM affirmed full confidence in the party getting a full majority in the elections. He said that there was no chance of a hung Assembly. He said that the BJP will form the government comfortably.
"There is no chance of a hung Assembly, we are going to form the government comfortably. I won't talk about other parties much. Everyone talks based on their assessments, and I have my own assessments," Bommai was quoted by ANI.
Bommai visited the Hanuman temple to pray for good results as the counting began at 8 am.
BJP is keen to retain the only state it has in southern India to further expand its footprint while Congress is keen to gain momentum for its challenge in the assembly polls later this year and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. An incumbent government has not returned to power in Karnataka after a full term of five years since 1985.
The electoral fortunes of top leaders — Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy, among many others will be known today.
Karnataka registered a "record" turnout of 73.19 per cent in the voting on May 10, to elect representatives to the 224-member Assembly.