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Economic Times | 10 May, 2023 | 08:37AM IST
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Stage set for high-stake elections, polling starts in southern state
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Voting for the high stakes Assembly elections in Karnataka began early on Wednesday, in a state where the ruling BJP is eyeing to script history by retaining its southern citadel while a combative Congress eyes a comeback ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Polling is being held for 224 seats in what is being seen mainly as a three-cornered contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular)
The electoral fate of top guns--Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress veterans Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy among others will be sealed during the day-long exercise. Counting of polled votes will be taken up on May 13.
The voting that began at 7 am amid tight security will go on till 6 in the evening.
A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their vote in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.
Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074 female and 4,927 "others", while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender.
While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break the 38-year jinx -- the State has never voted the incumbent party to power since 1985 -- and tighten the grip on its southern stronghold, the Congress is seeking to wrest power to give the party the much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 parliamentary polls.
Polling is being held for 224 seats in what is being seen mainly as a three-cornered contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular)
The electoral fate of top guns--Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress veterans Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy among others will be sealed during the day-long exercise. Counting of polled votes will be taken up on May 13.
The voting that began at 7 am amid tight security will go on till 6 in the evening.
A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their vote in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.
Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074 female and 4,927 "others", while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender.
While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break the 38-year jinx -- the State has never voted the incumbent party to power since 1985 -- and tighten the grip on its southern stronghold, the Congress is seeking to wrest power to give the party the much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 parliamentary polls.
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Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Former CM Yediyurappa visits temple before casting vote in Shivamogga
Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Bharatiya Janata Party leader BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday cast his vote in the Karnataka Assembly polls at Adalitha Soudha in Shivamogga and urged people to exercise their franchise.
"I request all people to cast their votes as early as possible. I am 100 per cent sure they will vote in favour of the BJP. More than 75-80 per cent will support BJP. We will win 130-135 seats," the former chief minister said after casting his vote.
"We will get absolute majority and will form the government, there is no doubt about it. People's responses are very good in the state and on that basis, I am telling you we are going to get a majority," he added.
"I request all people to cast their votes as early as possible. I am 100 per cent sure they will vote in favour of the BJP. More than 75-80 per cent will support BJP. We will win 130-135 seats," the former chief minister said after casting his vote.
"We will get absolute majority and will form the government, there is no doubt about it. People's responses are very good in the state and on that basis, I am telling you we are going to get a majority," he added.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Nearly 600 candidates have criminal record
581 of the total 2600 candidates contesting Karnataka Elections have criminal cases against them
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Nearly 1100 crorepati candidates in Karnataka
1087 out of 2586 candidates in Karnataka Elections have declared assets worth over Rs 1 crore.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Rain may cast a shadow on polling
Rainfall is likely to cast a shadow on polling in Karnataka on Wednesday, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rains in Bengaluru and other parts of the state.
According to IMD, light to moderate rains and thunderstorms with lightning are expected in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts on Wednesday and Thursday. Apart from Bengaluru, light to moderate thundershowers accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Kalaburgi, Koppal, Yadgir, Ramanagara and Shivamogga, the IMD said on Tuesday.
According to IMD, light to moderate rains and thunderstorms with lightning are expected in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts on Wednesday and Thursday. Apart from Bengaluru, light to moderate thundershowers accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Kalaburgi, Koppal, Yadgir, Ramanagara and Shivamogga, the IMD said on Tuesday.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Key issues in Karnataka
The Congress has made corruption as the main theme against the BJP government, focussing on "scams" and 40 per cent commission charge by a contractors' body. The BJP has sought to counter the narrative by highlighting graft in previous Congress regimes both at the Centre and the State.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: What happened last time around, in 2018?
Karnataka assembly polls in 2018 witnessed a hung assembly with BJP emerging as the single largest party. It won 104 seats while the Congress and JD (S) won 87 and 30 seats each. Yediyurappa was first to stake the claim to form the government. But he failed to prove the majority after a high-pitch legal battle and submitted his resignation just before the trust vote in May 2018 paving way for the Congress-JD(S) coalition to form the government under the leadership of JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy. This government lasted for just 14 months.
Several MLAs switched sides to the BJP after resigning from the party, resulting in formation of BJP government led by BS Yediyurappa. BJP later pushed Yediyurappa to resign to make way for the current Chief Minister Bommai Basavaraj.
Several MLAs switched sides to the BJP after resigning from the party, resulting in formation of BJP government led by BS Yediyurappa. BJP later pushed Yediyurappa to resign to make way for the current Chief Minister Bommai Basavaraj.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Prime Minister Modi urges Karnataka to go out and vote
Urging the people of Karnataka, particularly young and first time voters to vote in large numbers and enrich the festival of democracy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 10, 2023
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Karnataka's caste math
Out of total Karnataka's population, Lingayats form about 17 per cent vote bank, Vokkaligas 15 per cent, OBCs 35 per cent, SC/STs 18 per cent, Muslims about 12.92 per cent and Brahmins about three per cent.
Lingayats are a politically-dominant community and can play a major role in deciding the fate of about 100 seats of Karnataka. In the current Karnataka assembly, there are 54 Lingayat MLAs including 37 from the ruling BJP. Among the 23 chief ministers from the state since 1952, as many as 10 have been Lingayats. BJP stalwart Yediyurappa also hails from the same Lingayat community.
Lingayats are a politically-dominant community and can play a major role in deciding the fate of about 100 seats of Karnataka. In the current Karnataka assembly, there are 54 Lingayat MLAs including 37 from the ruling BJP. Among the 23 chief ministers from the state since 1952, as many as 10 have been Lingayats. BJP stalwart Yediyurappa also hails from the same Lingayat community.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Three-way tussle takes off in Karnataka
The electoral fate of top guns--Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress veterans Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy among others will be sealed during the day-long exercise. Counting of polled votes will be taken up on May 13.
The voting that began at 7 am amid tight security will go on till 6 in the evening.
A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their vote in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.
The voting that began at 7 am amid tight security will go on till 6 in the evening.
A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their vote in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Voting begins for Karnataka's 224 seat Assembly as parties vie to reach113-seat majority mark
'The Kerala Story' emerged as a major issue in Karnataka polls after the Congress in its manifesto compared PFI with Bajrang Dal and assured to ban it if it comes to power in Karnataka after winning the upcoming elections thus inviting criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Pushing issues like corruption, unemployment, inflation, reservation and development to the back burner, the film 'The Kerala Story' found itself at the center of a nationwide debate.
The Congress gave another tool to BJP to consolidate its vote base in coastal state as well as nearby regions of Chikkamagaluru and parts of the Hubli-Dharwad region. BJP slammed Congress for supporting "terrorists".
The Centre has banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several other associated organisations for five years. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared the PFI and its front organisations including its student wing- the Campus Front of India (CFI) as an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Pushing issues like corruption, unemployment, inflation, reservation and development to the back burner, the film 'The Kerala Story' found itself at the center of a nationwide debate.
The Congress gave another tool to BJP to consolidate its vote base in coastal state as well as nearby regions of Chikkamagaluru and parts of the Hubli-Dharwad region. BJP slammed Congress for supporting "terrorists".
The Centre has banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several other associated organisations for five years. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared the PFI and its front organisations including its student wing- the Campus Front of India (CFI) as an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Karnataka Election 2023 Live: 'The Kerala Story' takes center stage over other issues
'The Kerala Story' emerged as a major issue in Karnataka polls after the Congress in its manifesto compared PFI with Bajrang Dal and assured to ban it if it comes to power in Karnataka after winning the upcoming elections thus inviting criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Pushing issues like corruption, unemployment, inflation, reservation and development to the back burner, the film 'The Kerala Story' found itself at the center of a nationwide debate.
Pushing issues like corruption, unemployment, inflation, reservation and development to the back burner, the film 'The Kerala Story' found itself at the center of a nationwide debate.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Mock poll begins ahead of voting for the Assembly polls.
#KarnatakaAssemblyElection | Mock poll begins ahead of voting for the Assembly polls.
— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2023
(Visuals from a polling booth at a govt school in Shiggaon) pic.twitter.com/cjkIEh70jB
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Preparations are underway at a polling booth in Bengaluru. Polling to start at 7
#KarnatakaAssemblyElection | Preparations are underway at a polling booth in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru ahead of voting for the Assembly polls.
— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2023
Voting for the single-phase election for 224 members State Legislative Assembly will begin at 7 am. pic.twitter.com/XepOuSPri8
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Siddaramaiah expresses confidence people would vote for the Congress, remove BJP govt
- Congress leaderSiddaramaiah on Tuesday expressed confidence that the people ofKarnataka would vote for the Congress and remove the BJP government inthe assembly election on May 10. "I think people will change the current govt and will bring theCongress govt.
- People are very enthusiastic to vote for Congress party,"said former Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah while speaking to media onTuesday.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Vote for development, progress, efficient governance: CM Bommai appeals to people in Karnataka
- Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai requested the people of Karnataka to vote for development,progress and efficient governance.
- Expressing his confidence, CM Bommai said that the people ofKarnataka have already decided to vote for BJP.
- "I once again requestthe entire people of Karnataka to vote for development, vote forprogress and vote to make Karnataka a strong vibrant, economic, social,educational and health-wise very strong state and also vote forefficient governance", he said.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Karnataka High Court permits serving free food after voting
- The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday alloweddistribution and serving of free food at hotels after voting in theKarnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday.The court has permitted hotels to serve food in order to encouragevoting.
- Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had prohibitedserving of free food on election day after voting as many hotels came upwith the offer.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: All Congress candidates in Karnataka sign 'pledge' to deliver on party's '5 guarantees'
- All Congress candidates yesterday signed a "solemn pledge" on Tuesday to deliver on the "five guarantees" promised by the party to the people of the state if voted to power.
- The Congress party, its president Mallikarjun Kharge and former president Rahul Gandhi on their Twitter accounts shared the pledge signed by all the 223 candidates that the five guarantees -- Yuva Nidhi, Anna Bhagya, Gruha Jyothi, Uchita Prayana and Gruha Lakshmi -- will be implemented once the party comes to power.
- "Once elected as your MLA, I will deliver on the 5 Congress guarantees for the people of Karnataka. I will dedicate myself to developing our constituency. Karnataka's interests will be my first priority. I will defend Kannada pride and culture with all my might. I pledge to fight corruption, maintain transparency and work towards a progressive Karnataka," the pledge signed by the Congress candidates read. Sharing the pledge on Twitter, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "All our Karnataka Congress candidates have made a solemn promise to deliver on the 5 guarantees for the people of Karnataka." "They have pledged to fight corruption and work towards a progressive Karnataka," Kharge said.
Karnataka Election 2023 News Live: Heavy rains continue to lash Karnataka, one killed by lightning
- Heavy rains continued to lash poll-boundKarnataka on Tuesday, leaving one man dead in Belagavi district.The rains came as the state is all set to go for polls on Wednesday (May10) for crucial Assembly elections which are considered as semi-finalsto 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- The meteorological department has predicted heavy rains in the state foranother five days.
- Yellow alert has been issued to the south and north interior region andcoastal regions. Meanwhile, large scale damages have been reported frommany districts of the state due to heavy rains.
