Karnataka Results 2023: Congress wins Karnataka, bags 136 seats; setback for BJP

We tried our best to make the double-engine government in Karnataka, we worked very hard. Our government did a lot of work in Karnataka. Karnataka received the largest foreign direct investment. Development skyrocketed in Karnataka under our governance. But in a democracy, whatever decision the people of Karnataka have given we accept that. We will identify our mistakes and work on them, says Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

Karnataka CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai tendered his resignation to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot following BJP's defeat in Karnataka election.

The first meeting of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has been called for tomorrow at 5:30 pm, said Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC in-charge of Karnataka.   

Congress have 137 legislators as our ally Darshan Puttannaiah won from Melukote seat. I've been told that Puttaswamy Gowda, an independent candidate, has also extended his support to Congress party. So now we have 138, Surjewala added.

"We started from Mekedatu (padayatra). Then came the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir. We have won almost 99% of the seats in the route in which Rahul Gandhi walked. I thank him for that," said Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge.

BJP accepts the mandate of the people of Karnataka with humility. I thank the diligent karyakartas of Karnataka BJP for their efforts and the people who showed faith in our vision. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the BJP will continue to work for the betterment of the people and raise their voice by actively playing the role of constructive opposition, says BJP national president JP Nadda.

Karnataka has created history. Karnataka has shown a new life for democracy not only for the people of Karnataka but for the entire country. This is a victory of every Kannadiga, says Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC in-charge of Karnataka.

"Karnataka has given a new mantra to save democracy. It's a pathway to save democracy and constitution across India. PM said 'Congress Mukt Bharat' but the people of Karnataka ensured that 'BJP Mukt South India'. People opened shops of love and closed the shops of hatred," he said.

I want to congratulate the people of Karnataka, on the government they have chosen, they have chosen it considering the present situation in the country. BJP is finished in the southern part of India. Wherever there is a BJP party, it's either due to poaching or unconstitutionally. In north India, BJP lost in Himachal Pradesh. Wherever there are elections next, BJP will lose in all those states, says Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Deputy CM.

Congress leaders, including national president Mallikarjun Kharge, state party chief DK Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah, display a show of strength as the party sweeps Karnataka polls.

Congress workers raise slogans in favour of state party president DK Shivakumar as Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and other party leaders arrive at the party office in Bengaluru.

A Congress worker sports a haircut with the party's symbol, name, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar's initials among other things, on his head.

Former CM and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah defeats BJP's V Somanna in Varuna, by 46,163 votes.

State minister and BJP leader CN Ashwathnarayan defeats Congress party's Anoop Iyengar by 41,302 votes.

I salute the people of Karnataka, all the voters. I also salute the winners for their victory. Even Kumaraswamy did well. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh elections are coming, and I think BJP will lose both elections. This is the beginning of the end of 2024... Now, I don't think they (BJP) will cross even 100, says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Congress' BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan defeats former Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP candidate Bhaskar Rao, by a margin of 53,953 votes, in Chamrajpet.

Congress party's Pradeep Eshwar defeats State Minister and BJP candidate Dr. K Sudhakar in Chikkaballapur, by a margin of 10,642 votes.

As I said, this (coming to power in Karnataka) is a huge responsibility. We went to the people with a few guarantees & we have to fulfill them. We have to work for the people. Public will tell us what will happen next, said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when asked about "voices" in the country that Rahul Gandhi will become the PM.

"I congratulate the people of Karnataka. They have sent a message across the state that public wants a politics that resolves their issues, a politics where their issues are discussed... people of Karnataka & Himachal Pradesh have proven that politics of diversion will not work anymore..," she said.

Celebration at Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office in Bengaluru as Congress sweeps Karnataka Polls.

BJP's Mahesh Tenginkai defeats Congress' Jagadish Shettar in the Hubli-Dharwad-Central constituency, by a margin of 34,289 votes. Jagadish Shettar has switched over to Congress before the election after the saffron party denied a ticket to him.

The whole election campaign was about the issues of Karnataka. We didn't make it a national election, we made this election for Vidhan Sabha. Congress' win is PM Modi's decisive defeat. This is because except for PM Modi, there was no other face. The issues we raised were related to the state. But BJP made the election campaign like a referendum for PM Modi. JP Nadda said that if you give a vote to Congress PM Modi's blessings will not be with you. The campaigning by PM Modi was totally rejected by the people of Karnataka, said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge wins in Chittapur against BJP's Manikanta Rathod by 13,640 votes

We always feared for Priyanka... But we will not be scared. We will go amongst people to raise our issues: Robert Vadra on election win

"Poor people defeated crony capitalists in Karnataka. We didn't fight this battle using hatred...": Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on party's thumping victory. 

We will introspect about the party's setback: BJP leader B S Yediyurappa

We will cross 130 seats also, it is a big victory of Congress party. People of Karnataka wanted a change because they were fed up with the BJP govt. BJP spent a lot of money on Operation 'Kamala'. Padyatra of Rahul ji helped as well in enthusing cadre of party: Congress leader Siddaramaiah

Congress candidate T Raghumurthy was declared winner from the Challakere Assembly constituency becoming the first registered win

All our leaders have worked unitedly and people have voted for our 'guarantees'. Once 'High Command' sends observers, other processes will follow. This is the victory of "Janata Janardhan": AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

We've not been able to make the mark. Once the results come we will do a detailed analysis. As a national party, we will not only analyse but also see what deficiencies and gaps were left at various levels. We take this result in our stride: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar, who quit BJP to join Congress, is trailing in Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting called tomorrow morning in Bengaluru as the party crosses the majority mark and surges ahead in 118 seats

Rajasthan CM and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot tweets, "The result of the atmosphere that was seen in Karnataka during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, clearly shows in #Karnataka election results...This will be repeated in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha election in Rajasthan."

Congress leading in 120 constituencies, BJP ahead in 69 seats while JD(S) leads in 26 seats & Independent- 5

Congress has cornered a vote share of 43% while BJP has bagged 36%. JD(S) has a vote share of 12.8%, as per current trends by EC

Big setback for former CM BS Yediyurappa, BJP is trailing in five of the seven seats in Shivamogga district

Congress leader Sachin Pilot says, "Congress has the majority. We will have a thumping victory. The slogan of "40% commission government" given by us, was accepted by the public. It was a major issue raised by us to defeat BJP. People accepted it and gave majority to the Congress."

BJP VIP Candidates Trailing- 

1. Maadhuswamy
2. Sriramlu
3. Renukacharya
4. BC Patil
5. ST Somashekar
6. MTB Nagaraj
7. Dr Sudhakar 
8. V Somanna
9. Suresh Kumar

As per the ECI, Congress crosses the halfway mark in early trends, leads in 115 constituencies, BJP ahead in 73 seats while JDS leads in 29 seats.

Jagadish Shettar trails by over 11,000 votes against BJP candidate Mahesh Tenginkai after 8th round of counting. 

Former CM B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Vijayendra of BJP is leading in Shikaripura by 8,715 votes against Goni Malatesh of Congress.

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar is leading in early trends of counting while Jagadish Shettar, who switched to Congress from Bharatiya Janata Party, is trailing in Hubli-Dharwad-Central.

JD(S)' Nikhil Kumaraswamy is leading in Ramanagara by 3,011 votes against H A Iqbal Hussain of the Congress.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge leading from Chittapur assembly seat as the Congress continues to maintain the lead in the poll results.

"We will form the govt with a heavy majority, there's no doubt about it. Negative, divisive campaign of the PM did not work": Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera

Congress asks all its MLAs to reach Bengaluru today as the counting of votes in Assembly elections continue; Congress leading in 25 seats

"As of now, it seems to be a neck-to-neck fight but we will be able to form the govt": BJP spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam on initial trends 

As per early trends: 

Karnataka Results- 20/ 224
Bharatiya Janata Party- 08
Indian National Congress- 12
JDS- 0

Kumaraswamy trailing 
Sri Ramulu trailing
Ramesh Jarkiholi trailing 
Jagadish Shettar leading
Laxman Savadi leading

"We will do anything to keep BJP out of power...In the interest of Karnataka, my father should become the CM," says Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Congress leader and son of former CM Siddaramaiah.

Today is a big day for Karnataka as the people's verdict for the state will be out. I am confident that BJP will win with absolute majority and give a stable government, says Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, in Hubballi.

Counting across 36 centres to decide fate of 2,615 candidates begins

Congress will get an absolute majority and form the government in Karnataka. We are confident that we will make government on our own: Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Congress leader and son of former CM Siddaramaiah

In the next 2-3 hours, it will become clear. Exit polls show that the two national parties will score in a big way. The polls have given 30-32 seats to JD(S). I am a small party, there is no demand for me... I am hoping for a good development: JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy

It's a big day today. We are hopeful that Congress will emerge victorious. We should get a comfortable majority with more than 120 seats. It's not just the exit polls that predict Congress victory, the same is also visible on the ground level, people want change: K Rahman Khan, Congress leader & former Union minister

"Congress will form the government once again with a majority. We are confident about this. The public of Karnataka is looking for a change, they were fed up with this present govt," says Congress leader Saleem Ahmed

Congress is expected to have a clear edge in Karnataka as four exit polls giving it a full majority and some predicting for a hung assembly with an advantage to the party.

There were over 11.71 lakh first-time voters registered in the state.

The voting passed off peacefully in Karnataka with a voting turnout of 73.19 per cent, surpassing the 72.36 per cent recorded in 2018. A total of 737 Theme-based and ethnic Model Polling stations were set up.

The counting of votes for the aggressively contested Karnataka assembly elections 2023 will be held on Saturday, three days after the voting concluded to elect the 224 members of the state Assembly. Counting across 36 centres to decide fate of 2,615 candidates