Karnataka Elections 2023: Voting ends for Karnataka Assembly polls; nearly 65.69 per cent turnout

Congress will win with a very big margin, and will get at 140 seats Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao as voting in Assembly elections conclude Counting of votes in Karnataka Assembly elections on 13th May.

The first picture of the Karnataka exit poll will be published shortly. The poll will predict who will form the next government in the southern state.

65.69% voting has been recorded  till 5 pm in Karnataka Assembly election 2023. The final voting percentage will be declared by the Election Commission later.

Kannada actor Dhruva Sarja cast his vote in Bengaluru today.

According to Election Commission, 52.03% voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm.

JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister HD Devegowda and his wife Chennamma cast their vote at a polling booth in Hassan.  "It's a small village. All round development has taken place. Credit should go to HD Revanna, who represents this constituency," Devegowda said after casting his vote at his native village Haradanahalli in Hassan district.

Karnataka Congress DK Shivakumar dismissed a post-poll alliance with Janata Dal (Secular) JD(S) expressing confidence that his party will get an absolute majority in the 224-seat assembly. "Here the issue is price rise, corruption, good governance and development. There are no chances of alliance with JD(S). We will form the government on our own," Shivakumar told reporters.

The state has witnessed rather a slow voting in the first five hours of the polling as 37.25% voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm. The voting started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm today. 

An elderly man arrived at a polling booth in Bengaluru's JP Nagar to cast his vote. A video was posted on Twitter wherein he was seen being assisted by people present at the polling booth. 

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: 

Karnataka Congress president and party's candidate from Kanakpura, DK Shivakumar was seen driving an auto-rickshaw in the constituency. He was also accompanied by several of his supporters. 

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and his wife Radhabai Kharge cast their votes at a polling booth in Kalaburagi.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the people of Karnataka have decided to choose a progressive, transparent and welfare-oriented government. He also took to Twitter to urge voters, especially first-time voters to come out and participate in the democratic process for a better future. 

Kannada actor Daali Dhananjaya and his family cast their votes in Kalenahalli Village of Arsikere.

The Election Commission of India paid gratitude to the specially-abled workers who came to the polling booths to cast their votes in the state. "Inspiration for all! Thanks to the PwD voters who came to the polling stations to cast their vote in Karnataka Elections 2023 (sic)," it added. 

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, along with his family, cast his vote at a polling booth in Ramanagara. "We are requesting people to bless JDS candidates to get proper development. Our party is going to be the King," Kumaraswamy said. 

Former cricketer Javagal Srinath casts his vote

Meanwhile, former cricketer Javagal Srinath also cast his vote at a polling station in Mysuru. "I request people to come, vote & choose a good leader for good democracy. I also voted...We must participate in democracy...," he said. 

Former Karnataka CM and Congress candidate from Varuna constituency, Siddaramaiah cast his vote as the polling is underway in the state. 

Actor Upendra Rao casts his vote

Meanwhile, Actor Upendra Rao also cast his vote at a polling booth in Bengaluru. 

In order to show their protest against rising prices, Congress workers "worshipped" an LPG gas cylinder. In a video, they were seen garlanding the LPG gas cylinder and burning incense sticks near it, in Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwari Nagar area.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah offered prayers at a temple in Varuna. He also urged people to vote for the party which works. He stated that the future of this country is also involved in this election. "I have been constantly saying that Congress will get 130 plus seats, it may go up to 150 seats also," he added. 

Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena cast his vote at Hebbal constituency. 

Speaking to the media, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai took a dig at Congress over the corruption issue, claiming many of its leaders are in jail. "Congress track record about corruption - a lot of people are out on bail. There are corruption charges and more than 60 cases have been filed with Lokayukta against former CM and others. What are they saying...?" he added. The CM further said that he is 100% confident that the BJP come back with a comfortable majority. 

Jagadish Shettar, former Karnataka CM and Congress candidate from the Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency cast his vote. He said that there has been a very good response from the people. "There is an undercurrent. People from all castes, everybody is working and voting for me. Congress & Jagadish Shettar will get elected with a huge margin," he added. 

Further, on the Karnataka Congress manifesto mentioning the ban on Bajrang Dal, Shetter said it is not a debatable question. "I have already said on so many occasions that banning of any organisation, if it is against the Constitution, the power is vested in the Union government and not the State government," he added. 

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya exuded confidence that the saffron party will register a thumping victory in the state. "Karnataka which is the land of Bajrang Bali will answer all these things on 13th May. We welcome DK Shivakumar and Congress party offering prayers to LPG cylinders, we are happy that Congress is doing some kind of puja at least," he added. 

Karnataka Congress president and party's candidate from Kanakapura, DK Shivakumar offered prayers at Sri Kenkeramma Temple in Kanakapura, Ramanagara. His brother and party MP DK Suresh was also with him. "Today young voters have a great opportunity...They will vote for a change...They know about the price rise & corruption in the state. I am sure they will go for a change and give us 141 seats. I am confident that the Congress party will form the Govt," DK Shivakumar told reporters. 

'I am 100% that my husband will win'

Meanwhile, Shivakumar's wife expressed confidence that his husband would win. "It (The Kerala Story) will not have any effect in Karnataka. I appeal to people to vote for Congress," she added. 

Rashtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale cast his vote. Meanwhile, Kannada actor Ganesh and his wife also arrived at a polling booth in RR Nagar, Bengaluru to cast their votes.

Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Shiggaon assembly constituency Basavaraj Bommai cast his vote. "I've voted and done my duty towards democracy. It's a privilege to vote in my constituency. I will win by a record margin. People of Karnataka will vote for positive development and BJP will get a comfortable majority," he claimed. 

As voting is underway in the state, the Election Commission of India encouraged people to vote. "Voting is your Right & your Duty. Don’t forget to cast your valuable vote," it wrote on Twitter. 

Former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader G Parameshwara cast his vote at a polling booth in Siddharth Nagar of Tumakuru. He reached the polling both along with his group of supporters. 

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy along with his wife Sudha Murty reached the polling booth in Bengaluru to cast their votes. "First, we vote and then we can say this is good, this is not good but if we don't do that then we don't have the right to criticise," said Narayana Murthy after casting his vote.

Sudha Murty sends out message to young voters

Meanwhile, Sudha Murty encouraged young voters to exercise their franchise. "Please look at us. We are oldies but we get up at 6 o'clock, come here and vote. Please learn from us. Voting is a sacred part of democracy...," she added. 

Eshwar Khandre, working president of Karnataka Congress, cast his vote in Bidar's Bhalki area. After exercising his franchise, the leader was seen posing with his wife. 

Speaking to the media, former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's son BY Vijayendra claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's magic will give the BJP an absolute majority. "We will win at least 130 seats in this election. Not only the Lingayat community, but all other castes are also with BJP. Congress will lose the election very badly," he said. "This is my first election and I am happy that the party gave me the opportunity to contest. I'm blessed to contest from the Shikaripura seat. People are fed up with hung assembly and I am confident that BJP will get a majority," he added. 

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai offered prayers at a Hanuman temple in Hubbali as voting continues across the state. He is contesting as a BJP candidate from the Shiggaon assembly constituency. "I am very happy with the way our party conducted the campaign and the way people have reacted. I appeal to people to come and vote for the development of Karnataka," the CM added. 

After offering prayers at Sri Huccharaya Swami Temple, former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa claimed that more than 75-80% will support the saffron party. He also urged all people to cast their votes as early as possible. "I am 100% sure they will vote in favour of the BJP. We will win 130-135 seats," Yediyurappa said. 

"BY Vijayendra (his son) is going to get more than 40,000 votes here. We will get the absolute majority and will form the govt, there is no doubt about it. People's response is very good," he further added. 

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and his family cast their votes in Thirthahalli. They also posed before the camera after exercising their franchise. 

Kannada actress Amulya casts her vote

Meanwhile, Kannada actress Amulya and her husband also cast their votes at a polling booth in RR Nagar, Bengaluru.

Union Finance Minister & BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman arrived at a polling booth in Bengaluru to cast her vote.

 After casting her vote, she said, "...On inflation, I am with the public that yes, there should not be a burden on them but the Opposition has no right (to speak on it). They should look at their own tenure..." 

Karnataka minister and BJP candidate from Malleshwaram constituency, CN Ashwathnarayan said that BJP has been a people's party and it represents all sections. "In the background of globalisation, we need to have a party which is strong enough to represent the people across the globe...", he told ANI. 

Actor Prakash Raj cast his vote and said that the people need to vote against "communal politics. "We need Karnataka to be beautiful," he added while speaking to news agency ANI. 

Karnataka Minister CN Ashwath Narayan cast his vote for at a polling booth in Bengaluru. "I request all people to come and cast their votes," he said after exercising his franchise. He is the current minister of Electronics, Information Technology - Biotechnology, Science and Technology, Higher Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood in the state government. 

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa offered prayers at Sri Huccharaya Swami Temple in Shikaripur, along with his family on the day of polling. His son, BY Vijayendra is contesting from the Assembly constituency.

Siddalinga Swami of Siddaganga mutt cast his vote for at a polling station in the Tumakuru constituency. 

As polling began in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of the state to vote in large numbers to enrich the festival of democracy. "Urging the people of Karnataka, particularly young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers and enrich the festival of democracy," he wrote on Twitter. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters to come out in large numbers to "vote for good governance, development and prosperity in the state." "Your one vote can ensure a pro-people and pro-progress govt that will continue to take the state to newer heights," he tweeted. 

The voting in all the 224 assembly constituencies has begun amid heavy security. A total of 2,615 candidates are in the fray. All three major political parties in the state -- BJP, Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)-- have put in efforts to woo voters, making promises and levelling accusations at each other to secure a majority in the state. The Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters will play a major factor in the elections. Lingayats comprise 17% of the population and Vokkaligas 11%. 

All three major political parties in the state -- BJP, Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)-- have put in efforts to woo voters, making promises and levelling accusations at each other to secure a majority in the state's 224-seat Assembly. Some of the key constituencies which will make a major mark in the polls are Varuna, Kanakapura, Shiggaon, Hubli-Darwad, Channapatna, Shikaripura, Chittapur, Ramanagara, and Chikmagalur.

The high-voltage campaign for assembly elections ended on Monday with all party leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding 19 public meetings and six roadshows while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi camped in the state for 12 days.