Karnataka Election 2023 Updates: 72% Turnout Recorded; CM Bommai Rejects Exit Poll Results, Says BJP to Win With Full Majority

Rejecting the Karnataka exit poll results predicting a tight contest between BJP and Congress or a hung assembly, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday exuded confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form a government in the southern state with a full majority. Read More

Most exit polls have put the Congress in the lead in Karnataka. But, the final deciding factor on result day on May 13 could be whether the Congress rode home on the momentum it built till April 26, or did the BJP manage to pull the election back in its favour in the last fortnight before polling on Wednesday. Read More

A voter turnout of nearly 70 per cent was recorded in the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday where the ruling BJP, a combative Congress and the JD(S), which is hoping to be a kingmaker in the event of a hung assembly, are locked in a cliffhanger contest. Several pollsters predicted that the Congress may have an edge in Karnataka, which is BJP’s southern citadel, in a hung assembly with a couple of them even projecting that the grand old party may get a majority on its own. Counting of votes for the 224-member Assembly will be taken up on May 13.

As the crucial Karnataka assembly elections ended with a total of nearly 66 per cent voter turnout on Wednesday, multiple pollsters predicted a hung assembly in the southern state, with no main parties – the ruling BJP, the Congress, and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda’s JD(S) – getting a full majority to form a new government. Read More

Karnataka Elections 2023: Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeepa, who is a star campaigner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was seen casting his vote in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon. A video of the actor at the polling booth has surfaced online. While the actor was surrounded by a handful of people at the booth, he was greeted by a sea of media personnel. Read More

Congress leader and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who left BJP over denial of ticket to fight the Karnataka polls, told CNN-News, “I have not jumped the BJP but quit it. There was no proper communication between state BJP and central leadership. I am going to win the Hubballi seat. I have joined Congress unconditionally. I will accept the role which Congress will give to me.”

When asked about exit poll results in Karnataka, Congress leader DK Shivakumar told CNN-News18, “I don’t go by surveys. We will get absolute majority. Without any support, Congress will form the government. I believe in what I have done on the ground. Congress will win around 141 seats. I am not worried about the CM post.”

When asked about exit poll results and the possibility of JD(S) being a “kingmaker” in case of hung assembly, BJP leader and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “People are the kingmaker. They will ensure BJP forms the government in the state. I will answer this question on May 13. Earlier also, exit polls have been proved wrong. This time also it will be. I am 200 per cent sure we will win.”

Speaking to CNN-News, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said these exit polls are going to be proven wrong on May 13.

As voting concluded for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday evening, former chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yediyurappa said that the saffron party will “get an absolute majority” and will form the government. Speaking to CNN-News18, Yediyurappa said that “BJP will get an absolute majority” and will form the government. I know the pulse of the people, and I have visited the state.” Read More

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18 on Karnataka exit poll results, BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa said, “Let us wait for the counting. BJP will get absolute majority. BJP will form the government in the state. I know the pulse of the people. We will form the government. I have visited the state. After counting, we will take appropriate decision. Lingayat community is happy with BJP. The community people are happy with my decision not to contest the elections.”

As the voting for the Karnataka assembly elections ended and exit poll results were released, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked the “Babbar Sher” workers and leaders of the grand old party for a “well-run, dignified and solid people-oriented campaign”.

As the voting ended for the Karnataka assembly elections on Wednesday at 6 pm, the exit poll predictions were released by various agencies. Follow LIVE blog here

Voting came to an end for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday at 6 pm with data showing a voter turnout of 65.69 per cent an hour ago. According to the latest voter turnout for the polls to the 224-member Assembly, Ramanagara recorded the highest turnout of 78.22 per cent, while the lowest polling was from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) South limits (parts of Bengaluru city) at 48.63 per cent, election officials said. The state is mainly witnessing a three-cornered contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda’s JD(S).

With voting for the high stakes Assembly elections in Karnataka crossing the halfway mark on Wednesday with nearly 65.69 per cent votes registered till 5 pm, all eyes are set on exit poll results expected to be released by several agencies after 6:30 pm. Follow LIVE Updates

Karnataka today recorded 65.69 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm.

A polling booth in Kurlagindi village in Ballari district became a makeshift delivery room after a 23-year-old woman went into labor when she arrived to cast her vote for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday. Female officials and women voters at the premise provided assistance during the delivery, according to a report. Read More

BJP leader and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said that Congress displayed a ‘bewakoofi ka udaharan [example of stupidy] by mentioning ‘Bajrang Bali’ in its manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly election 2023. Congress Karnataka election manifesto has been in the eye of the storm for its proposal to impose a ‘ban’ on individuals and organisations like “Bajrang Dal and PFI” or others “promoting enmity or hatred”. Read More

In a rare incident, a 23 year-old woman today gave birth to a baby at a polling booth in Kurlagindi village of Ballari in the poll-bound Karnataka. Female officials and women voters helped her to deliver the baby.

Villagers of Masabinala in Vijayapura district stopped a poll duty vehicle carrying electronic voting machines (EVMs), manhandled an officer and damaged control and ballot units on Wednesday following which 23 people were arrested, the Election Commission said. Read More