Karnataka election results: Congress wins big; BJP concedes defeat

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said the assembly election trends from Karnataka that project a Congress victory send the message that the "end" of the BJP's negative, communal and corrupt politics has begun.

The Congress was striding forward with leads in 117 seats while the BJP was ahead in 75 in Karnataka, according to Election Commission of India trends, as votes were counted on Saturday for an election widely seen as a litmus test for both parties ahead of the 2024 parliamentary polls.

Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi, "The message from Karnataka is that the 'antkaal (end)' of the BJP's negative, communal, corrupt, pro-rich, anti-women, anti-youth, socially divisive, propaganda, individual-centric politics has begun." "This is a strict mandate of a new posit

#WATCH | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reacts to his party winning Karnataka Assembly elections pic.twitter.com/nKl7TOwFLm

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2023

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the party will come to power on its own by winning over 120 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly and claimed the visits of BJP brass led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no impact on the voters of the state.  Siddaramaih said the visits of Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda have had no impact on the voters of Karnataka.

#KaranatakaElectionResults | Congress leader Siddaramaiah leading from Varuna constituency as the Congress leads in 120 seats in #KarnatakaElection

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#WATCH | Karnataka Congress workers hail party leadership as they celebrate the party's lead in 95 Assembly constituencies

Visuals from Congress office in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/wHETDrMVuz

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Karnataka Congress Chief D K Shivakumar leading in Kanakapura by about 6,000 votes against BJP leader and Minister R Ashoka.

Ex-CM Jagadish Shettar trails in Hubballi-Dharwad central Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar who quit BJP and joined the Congress is trailing by around 2,500 votes in Hubballi-Dharwad Central.

#WATCH A snake which had entered BJP camp office premises in Shiggaon, rescued; building premises secured amid CM's presence pic.twitter.com/1OgyLLs2wt

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Opposition Congress in Karnataka forged ahead of its rival, the ruling BJP, according to the initial trends of counting of votes polled.

The Mallikarjun Kharge-led party was leading in 82 seats and the BJP in 66.

The JD(S), led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, gained an early lead in 21 segments.

#KarnatakaPolls | "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 in #KarnatakaAssemblyElection2023 pic.twitter.com/8OCAiggPZD

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2023

#WATCH | Celebrations underway at national headquarters of Congress party in New Delhi as counting of votes gets underway for #KarnatakaPolls. pic.twitter.com/e0eGObhLh3

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2023

The ruling BJP was slightly ahead of the Congress in early trends as the counting of votes was taken up for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Saturday.

The authorities have clamped prohibitory orders in the capital city Bengaluru and communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district to avoid untoward incidents and maintain law and order situation. The election results are crucial for the two national parties - BJP and Congress - as well as for the state party JD(S).

#WATCH | 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. pic.twitter.com/8r9mKGiTIe

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2023

#WATCH | Counting of votes begins for Karnataka #KarnatakaPolls. Visuals of a counting centre in Kolar. #KarnatakaAssemblyElections2023 pic.twitter.com/9tj983cVME

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2023