Karnataka results LIVE: It's 'BJP-free south India' now, says Kharge

Karnataka Assembly Election Results 2023 LIVE: Karnataka registered a "record" turnout of 73.19 per cent in the voting on May 10

11:09 PM

4% jump in vote share across regions boosts Congress seats tally to cross 130-mark

The Congress improved its vote share by more than four per cent across different regions of Karnataka in the Assembly elections, taking its tally of seats beyond the 130-mark.

The results for the May 10 polls were declared on Saturday with the Congress emerging on top as it won 135 seats and was leading in one seat.

While the party's vote share jumped by more than four per cent, the JD(S) saw a sharp fall of more than five per cent, according to Election Commission data on the Assembly elections.

In the 2018 elections, the Congress garnered a vote share of 38.04 per cent, followed by the BJP (36.22 per cent) and the JD(S) with 18.36 per cent.

10:41 PM

CM Basavaraj Bommai submits resignation to Karnataka Governor

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai submitted his resignation to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, following BJP's defeat in the Assembly polls, the results of which were declared on Saturday. The Governor has accepted the resignation, an official release said.

Speaking to reporters later, Bommai said: "We respectfully accept the decision of the people. I take the responsibility of the defeat."

"This time despite getting more than 36 per cent votes, we have got less number of seats. Analysis is going on, but defeat is a defeat. In the party, we will do a detailed analysis of the results, and rectify wherever required."

10:21 PM

Karnataka CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai tenders his resignation

10:13 PM

Karnataka polls: Most exit polls miss mark, only one gets scale of Cong win right

Most exit polls missed their mark in predicting an outright win for the Congress in the Karnataka assembly polls though some of them got that aspect right with only India Today-Axis My India forecasting the scale of win correctly.

Interestingly, it was senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar whose prediction that the Congress would win at least 141 seats in an interview to PTI earlier this week was very close to the actual figure of 135 that his party has won.

In the results declared Saturday, the Congress won 135 seats while the BJP ended up with 65. The JD(S), the third player in the contest, won 19 seats in the 224-member assembly, while two seats were won by Independents, two were won by regional parties. Counting was still on in one seat, where the Congress was leading.

9:38 PM

Karnataka polls: BJP accepts people's mandate with humility, says Nadda

BJP president J P Nadda on Saturday said his party accepts the mandate of the people of Karnataka with humility and it will continue raising their voice by playing the role of a constructive opposition.

The Congress returned to power on its own in Karnataka after 10 years, knocking the BJP off its only southern perch on Saturday as voters decisively backed the grand old party desperately seeking electoral revival ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In a tweet, Nadda thanked those who voted for the party in the Karnataka Assembly polls and workers of the BJP's Karnataka unit for their efforts.

9:24 PM

Chhattisgarh and MP elections are coming, and I think BJP will lose both elections: Mamata

9:06 PM

Decisive victory of Congress in Karnataka proves PM Modi is not 'anantavijayam': Jairam Ramesh

The Congress' decisive victory in Karnataka has given the much-needed "booster dose" to the party and proven that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the politics of divisiveness and polarisation can be defeated, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said on Saturday.

"The prime minister thought he had a conch which was 'anantavijayam' like that of Yudhisthira in the 'Mahabharata'. This election has proved the prime minister can be defeated and that he is not 'anantavijayam' (forever victorious)," he said.

In an interview to PTI after the Congress staged an emphatic comeback in the only southern state governed by the BJP, he said the people of Karnataka have given a clear mandate against the prime minister.

8:52 PM

Before every Lok Sabha election, Congress won Assembly election in Karnataka: Himanta Biswa Sarma

8:40 PM

"BJP Mukt Dakshin Bharat": Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hits out at BJP after K'taka win

Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party after the thumping victory of the Congress in the Karnataka Assembly elections, AICC president M Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said those who wanted 'Congress Mukt Bharat' ended up facing 'BJP Mukt Dakshin Bharat'.

Kharge took a swipe at the BJP, saying egoistic statements will not work anymore and one should understand the sufferings of people.

"Those who wanted to make 'Congress Mukt Bharat' (Congress-free India) spoke many things against us but today one thing has come true and that is 'BJP Mukt Dakshin Bharat' (BJP free South India)," Kharge told a press conference.

8:32 PM

"Public will tell us...": Priyanka Gandhi on calls for Rahul Gandhi to become PM

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said that the public would decide the future course after calls grew within the party for Rahul Gandhi to be the prime ministerial candidate following the resounding victory of the party in Karnataka Assembly polls.

Describing the results of the Karnataka Assembly polls as a mandate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Siddaramaiah said that it would act as a "stepping stone" to the Lok Sabha election slated next year.

"The result of this election is a stepping stone to the Lok Sabha election. I hope all non-BJP parties come together and see that BJP is defeated and I also hope Rahul Gandhi may become PM of the country," Siddaramaiah said.

8:09 PM

We've to fight bigger battle in coming elections: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

8:07 PM

Sincere gratitude to Karnataka people for giving BJP chance to serve them for many years: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday expressed gratitude to the people of Karnataka for allowing the BJP to serve them for many years and said the party under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue to work for the welfare of the state and its people.

The Congress returned to power on its own in Karnataka after 10 years, knocking the BJP off its only southern perch on Saturday as voters decisively backed the grand old party desperately seeking electoral revival ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"My sincere gratitude to the people of Karnataka for giving the BJP the opportunity to serve them for so many years. The BJP under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi Ji will continue to strive for the welfare and development of the people of Karnataka," Shah tweeted.

7:47 PM

Karnataka poll result: This is a victory of every Kannadiga, says Randeep Singh Surjewala

7:46 PM

Karnataka elects the highest number of women MLAs since 1962

Voters have elected 12 women to the Karnataka Assembly polls, making this the highest tally since 1962, when 18 women were elected as MLAs.

Of the women who won this time, there were five candidates each from the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and one from the Janata Dal (Secular) and one Independent. As many as 185 women contested in this election.

The two national parties, the BJP and Congress, had fielded 12 and 11 women candidates, respectively, in the 224 constituencies in this election. In 2018, the voters elected just 7 women, or 3.1 per cent of the 219 women contestants, to the state Assembly. READ MORE...

7:37 PM

Historical win for Congress in Karnataka: A K Antony

With the Congress winning 130 seats in the assembly elections of Karnataka, Former Defence Minister AK Antony called it a historical win for his party and said that it showcased the victory of Secularism.

Speaking to ANI, AK Antony said, "Congress' victory is historical, it showcases the victory of secularism, win over hate politics. This shares many messages, the secular voters can unite and in the 2024 elections we can beat the Modi government."

Congress won an absolute majority in Karnataka with the party crossing the halfway mark of 113 seats in the 224-member assembly.

He said the win in the southern state gives a clear message that the people want development, peace and harmony.