Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023

In a tweet he said, "It is an extraordinary result for the Congress party in Chikmagalur district which had become a BJP bastion of late. It won all 5 of the 5 seats there. In 1978, Chikmagalur heralded the revival of Congress nationally by electing Indira Gandhi. History will soon repeat itself!"

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday after the results came, state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar said that the party is holding the legislature party meeting at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. "There is no scope for individual worship. The party is supreme," he said. "This is not the victory of Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar. This is the result which will unite India."

Voters decisively backed the Congress, providing the grand old party with much-needed momentum ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP conceded defeat after Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated that his party could not make the mark, despite the efforts of everyone, including the prime minister and party workers.

Hussain polled 72,898 votes and Kumaraswamy secured 61,692 votes. BJP candidate Gautham Gowda managed to get only 10,870 votes. This is the second defeat for Kumaraswamy. His mother Anita Kumaraswamy represented the seat earlier.Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar had appealed to the voters to support his party.

As per the Election Commission, Congress' vote share is currently at 43.2 per cent in the southern state, whereas the BJP stands at 36 per cent.

The Congress was leading in regions considered as BJP strongholds. The Congress party candidates were in three constituencies of Dakshina Kannada district which witnessed revenge killings. Congress managed to win only one seat in the last elections and BJP won seven seats.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that the high command is ready with a '50:50 formula' for the post of Chief Minister. According to sources, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar are the prominent contenders for the post of the Chief Minister.

Speaking about "power sharing" between him and Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar told mediapersons: "The decision of Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is final on this matter." He further said: "I don't have a belief in exit polls. According to me, we will win 141 seats. Our surveys have collected more samples than the exit poll agencies.

As per sources, the Congress has already approached S.I. Chikkanagoudar of Kundgol constituency in Dharwad district. There is a direct contest between Chikkanagoudar and BJP candidate M.R. Patil. Acting on reports of Chikkanagoudar's possibile victory, the Congress has already invited him to join hands with the party.

When asked whether she will become Chief Minister if BJP wins the state assembly polls, Karandlaje told reporters that there is no question of her returning to the state politics, adding that, "I have got the opportunity to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am happier there."

Talking to reporters after some post-poll surveys, after the voting, indicated a hung Assembly, he said: "I don't believe in the numbers shown in the post poll surveys. As I have said, I am committed to my statement of Congress winning 146 seats in the elections."