The Congress on Saturday registered a thumping victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls with party leaders hailing the win as the triumph of love over hatred.

As per latest data published by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Congress has been declared victorious in 131 seats which is well ahead of the “magic number” of 113 seats required to form a majority government in the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly.

The ECI has declared results for 209 out of the 224 seats with Congress securing wins in 126 seats and leading in seven others while the outgoing BJP has won 60 seats and is leading in five.

HD Kumaraawamy’s Janata Dal (Secular) has been declared winner in 19 seats while two Independent candidates have also secured victories and regional parties Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha have won a seat each.

As per the ECI’s data, the Congress has a vote share of 43 percent followed by BJP with 35.9 percent and the JD (S) at 13.3 percent.

“Love triumphs over hate”

Congress scion Rahul Gandhi called the party’s overwhelming win in the Karnataka Assembly elections as the victory of poor people against the muscle and money backed by crony capitalism.

Addressing joyous party workers at Congress Headquarters in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said the people of Karnataka have rejected hatred and voted for love.

The Gandhi scion said that nafraat ke bazaar (markets of love) have been shut and mohabbat ki dukaan (shops of love) have opened in Karnataka, adding that love won over hate and this will be repeated in upcoming elections in other states.

The former Wayanad MP said that five promises made by the Congress will be fulfilled in the very first cabinet meeting of the new government.

He said that the Congress fought the Karnataka polls by focussing on the issues faced by the poor people of the state rather than relying on hatred and abuse unlike others.

Karnataka mein nafrat ki bazaar bandh hui, mohabbat ki dukanein khuli, markets of hate have been shut in Karnataka and shops of love have opened), Gandhi said amid loud cheers from Congress leaders and workers.

He said the fight was between two polar opposites as on one hand, there stood poor people with their undying strength, while on the other, there was the power, money and muscle of crony capitalism.

Earlier, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot credited the Congress’s sweeping victory in the Karnataka to Rahul Gandhi’s marathon ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, saying that during the atmosphere (of Congress victory) was visible when the former party chief landed in the state during his pan-India foot march.

Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah termed the party’s victory as the triumph of a secular party over one that is fuelled and driven by hatred and polarization.

In a tweet, Siddaramaiah, in a sly dig at PM Modi’s “double engine Sarkar” called the Congress’s win a victory of honesty over 40% commission, of secularism over communal politics and Karnataka’s pride over “trouble engine.”

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar broke down as he shed tears of joy while addressing the media.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge called it a Janata Janardhan Victory and said that the electorate in Karnataka has finally “awoken”, rejected hatred and thrown out the BJP.

BJP concedes defeat

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the rival party for its victory while appreciating the BJP workers for their hard work in the state.

PM Modi promised to serve Karnataka better in the times to come.

The Congress is on the cusp of forming a majority government in the state as Chief Minister Basavaraj implicitly conceded defeat saying that BJP wasn’t able to cross the “magic mark” despite the best efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bommai, the outgoing chief minister said he takes “full responsibility” for the defeat of the BJP while former CM and BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa stressed that the state poll results will have absolutely no bearing on next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Talking to reporters, Bommai said he accepts the people’s mandate and as the head of the government, takes full responsibility for the BJP’s defeat, adding that the party will conduct a complete analysis of their defeat in the coming days.

Basavaraj Bommai assured that the BJP would act as a responsible opposition and conceded that the Congress employed a “much organized” poll strategy that led to their victory.

Latest counts have put the grand old party ahead in the vicinity of over 140 seats, way ahead of the 113 required to form a majority government.

The Congress has already been declared victorious in 131 seats when last reports came in and are leading another five which would take their total to 136 seats.

Outgoing Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he takes “full responsibility” for the defeat of the BJP in the Assembly election even as former CM and BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa stressed that the state poll results will have absolutely no bearing on next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Talking to reporters, Bommai said he accepts the people’s mandate and as the head of the government, takes full responsibility for the BJP’s defeat, adding that the party will conduct a complete analysis of their defeat in the coming days.

Basavaraj Bommai assured that the BJP would act as a responsible opposition and conceded that the Congress employed a “much organized” poll strategy that led to their victory.

He said the BJP will analyse the performance of every constituency in detail in the coming days and try to overcome their shortcomings and bounce back, adding that the party will now focus on making necessary preparations organisationally and administratively for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to emerge victorious and secure a third term at the Centre.

Asked why the PM Modi and Amit Shah factor did not work in the Karnataka polls, Bommai said the Congress had a better and organized election strategy which led to their win.

The Chief Minister, who secured a victory from Shiggaon Assembly segment despite the BJP’s mediocre performance, thanked the people for electing him and said he will work for the development of the constituency.

“No bearing on 2024 Lok Sabha polls”

Meanwhile, former CM and BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa stressed that the Karnataka results will have no bearing on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the saffron party will strive hard to repeat their 2019 feat by winning at least 25 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats.

Talking to newsmen, Yediyurappa maintained that the Karnataka election result will not affect the 2024 elections in the slightest and the BJP will make an all-out effort to make sure Prime Minister Narendra Modi is voted to power again.

The four-time chief minister said he “respectfully” accepts the people’s verdict while also urging the Congress to make good on their poll promises.

Yediyurappa also urged BJP supporters and workers not be feel deflated by the defeat, adding that the party will introspect the reason behind the Karnataka debacle.

The Congress is all but on the verge of forming a majority government in the state as Chief Minister Basavaraj implicitly conceded defeat saying that BJP wasn’t able to cross the “magic mark” despite the best efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Latest counts have put the grand old party ahead in the vicinity of over 140 seats, way ahead of the 113 required to form a majority government.

The Congress has already been declared victorious in 114 seats when last reports came in.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who jumped ship and joined the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections, ironically lost in his constituency to none other than the candidate from his former party, the BJP, even as the grand old party stands at the cusp of a sweeping victory in the state.

Jagadish Shettar, a prominent leader from the Lingayat community, who had quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after being denied a ticket and joined the Congress, lost to Mahesh Tenginakai, the saffron party’s candidate from the Hubli-Dharwad Central assembly segment by almost 30,000 votes.

Shettar, a former Chief Minister of Karnataka and a six-time MLA, had quit the BJP claiming “ill-treatment by the saffron party, after being denied a ticket from the Hubli-Dharwad Central and had later joined the Congress.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had hailed Shettar’s joining into party ranks and had predicted that the veteran Lingayat leader’s entry would lead the Congress to a massive win in Karnataka.

Kharge’s latter prediction came true, however, the BJP had also said that Shettar won’t be able to win this time around when asked the reason behind denying a ticket to the senior politician.

Former Chief Minister and another major Lingayat leader, BS Yediyurappa had termed Shettar decision to quit the BJP a mistake saying that the party had promised him a Rajya Sabha membership and a ministerial berth in the BJP-ruled Central government.

Yediyurappa said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had himself spoken to Shettar about the matter but he did not budge and made the mistake of quitting the BJP.

The Congress is all but on the verge of forming a majority government in the state as Chief Minister Basavaraj implicitly conceded defeat saying that BJP wasn’t able to cross the “magic mark” despite the best efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Latest counts have put the grand old party ahead in the vicinity of over 140 seats, way ahead of the 113 required to form a majority government.