Karnataka Assembly Election Result 2023 LIVE: Congress Takes Lead Back from BJP as EVM Counting Begins; Jagadish Shettar & HDK Trailing

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar is leading in Kanakapura constituency as per early trends. Shivakumar has been elected as an MLA for seven terms and is known as a problem solver for the Congress party. As a minister, he has held various portfolios and has been waiting for an opportunity to seriously consider the chief ministerial post if Congress emerges victorious.

Congress leader Laxman Savadi is leading in Athani constituency according to early trends. Savadi, a three-time MLA from Athani in Belgavi district, quit the BJP and joined the Congress after he was denied a ticket to contest in the high-profile constituency.

According to latest early trends figures in the Karnataka Assembly election results, Congress maintains dominant lead in 107 seats, BJP follows with 91, JD(S) in 24 and Others in 2

The candidates contesting in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections from Bommanahalli are: Umapathy Srinivasa Gowda (INC); Umapathi Babu N (BSP); Sivarama Kotegowda (NBS); Sitharamu (AAP); Sathish Reddy M (BJP); Sathish Reddy M (IND); Sathish Reddy (IND); Nijamuddin (IND); Nanda Reddy (KRS); Mamatha R (UPP); K Narayan Raju (JDS); Anthony Raj J (IND); Adil Pasha S (IND); Abdul Khadar G S Y (IND).

“The initial trends show a neck-to-neck fight, but we are confident that we will be able to form the government,” says BJP spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam amid the counting of votes for the Karnataka assembly elections.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader DV Sadananda Gowda confidently predicts that his party will secure an absolute majority, saying “We will go beyond 115-120 seats.”

According to early trends, Congress is leading in 104 seats, while BJP is leading in 92 seats as EVM counting begins. JD(S) is leading in 26 seats, while other parties are leading in 2.

A total of 14 candidates are contesting in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections from Nargund constituency. The candidates include Veeresh Sobaradamath, Veeranagouda Shivanagouda Muganur, Vasanagouda Ninganagouda Bhandi, Umesh Fakeerappa Talawar, Shivanand Shiddappa Mayannavar, Rudrayya Gadigayya Sureban, Ramappa Hujaratti, Ramappa Dyamappa Huvannavar, R N Patil, M Y Nayak, Dr Muttu Surakod (Madar), C C Patil, B R Yavagal, and Hanamant Yallappa Madar from various parties such as BJP, Congress, JDS, BSP, and independent candidates.

Candidates contesting in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections from Chickamagalur are: M P Eregowda (AAP), H D Thammaiah (INC), B M Thimma Shetty (JDS), Sudha K B (BSP), Yathish B J (UPP), Shiva Prakash (KRS), Afzal Pasha (IND), C K Jagadeesha (IND), Noorulla Khan (IND), Muniyappa (IND), H C Mullappa Shetty (Hulikere Pulikeshi) (IND), Mohsina (IND), M G Vijay Kumar (IND), Shashidhara B G (IND), Syed Zabi (IND)

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visits Hanuman temple in Hubballi. Candidates contesting in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections from Shiggaon are: Mahaboobsab Dadusab Kalebag (AAP), Pathan Yasirahmedkhan (INC), Shashidhar Yeligar (JDS), Khajamohiddin Gudageri (IMP), Shambulinga Hukkeri (KRS), Jagadish Yallappa Bankapur (IND), Manjakka Rukkavva Pujar (IND), Virupakshagouda Naganagouda Fakkiragoudra (IND), Dr U P Shivananda (IND)

Early trends indicate that BJP is maintaining a lead over Congress, and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy is trailing in the Channapatna constituency.

According to latest early trends, BJP maintains a lead in 100 Karnataka assembly constituencies and Congress in 84. JD(S) leads in 23 and Others in 2 seats.

In a statement to CNN News18, Congress leader Priyank Kharge said that while the counting over votes for the Karnataka assembly elections has just begun, he is confident that the Congress will cross 112 mark. He also mentioned that there is a strong undercurrent against BJP and people of Karnataka are unhappy with their performance.

As early trends show BJP in the lead, BJP spokesperson Shehzad accuses Congress of being insecure. In response, Congress spokesperson Dhruv Jatti asserts that the insecurity lies with the BJP.

BJP continues to maintain lead over Congress in early trends, according to latest updates by CNN-News18.

BJP: 93 Congress: 80 JD(S): 21 Others: 3

Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Congress leader and son of former CM Siddaramaiah, states that they are willing to do anything to prevent the BJP from coming to power in Karnataka. “We will do anything to keep BJP out of power…In the interest of Karnataka, my father should become the CM,” he told ANI.

Early trends by CNN-News18 show Congress leader Jagdish Shettar leading in Hubli-Dharwad Central, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai leading in Shiggaon and Congress leader Siddaramiah leading in Badami.

The controversy over the ‘40% commission’ began in April 2022, following the death of contractor Santosh Patil from Belagavi, who accused former BJP minister KS Eshwarappa of demanding a 40% commission for a government project. This accusation led to other contractors coming forward with similar allegations against government officials. The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association had staged a large-scale protest alleging non-payment of bills by the state government and claimed local contractors were not getting work because people from other states were receiving government orders due to high corruption.

The counting of votes in the Karnataka Assembly elections has started in Hubballi, with postal ballots to be counted first, according to latest reports by ANI news agency.

Early trends for Karnataka assembly election results show BJP leading in 33 seats, Congress in 29, and JD(S) in 10, according to LIVE updates by CNN-News18.