Congress supporters celebrate Karnataka election victory at AICC headquarter in New Delhi on May 13, 2023. (PTI)
Karnataka Election Results 2023: A majority mandate has given the much-needed momentum to the Congress ahead of elections to Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh later this year and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024
The Karnataka election results have provided the much-needed momentum to the Congress ahead of the Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh assembly elections later this year and then the big battle for the Lok Sabha in 2024.
At 11:30 am on Saturday, the grand old party was leading on 119 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, comfortably ahead of the majority mark of 113. The BJP was leading on 72, while the Janata Dal (Secular) was leading on 26. The latter performed better than expected, but party leader HD Kumaraswamy’s hopes of playing the role of kingmaker, and perhaps king like last time, were dashed with the Congress getting a majority.
We will come to power on our own strength. This time too, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a contender for this post, said, the Congress’s lead will increase. Karnataka, it will have no effect. We said that even if Modi comes, nothing will work. And watch it happen.”
Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar, a rival contender for the post of CM, tweeted a picture of him watching the election results with his team.
His senior party colleague, Sachin Pilot, said: “The Congress has a majority. We will have a great victory. The public accepted the slogan ‘40% commission government’ given by us. This was one of the major issues raised by us to defeat the BJP. People accepted it and gave majority to Congress.”
Party leader BK Hariprasad compared the Karnataka election victory with the 1979 elections. “The Congress can fight the BJP alone. Back in 1979, when Indira Gandhi Yes Disqualified, we gave a befitting reply.
“Karnataka voted for Progress! Karnataka voted for Prosperity! Karnataka voted for Swabhimana!” tweeted Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Karnataka voted for progress! Karnataka voted for prosperity! Karnataka voted for self respect! Young and old, poor and middle class, everyone has trusted Congress and given us a huge majority.
We will guarantee Congress, we will rebuild the brand…
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 13, 2023
what does the action now move to next chief minister of karnataka There will be a tough race between Karnataka unit chief DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, who has said this will be his last election.
The Congress campaign, by and large, focused on local issues and was initially run by its local leaders. Central leaders like party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined later.
With Kannadiga Kharge coming from Kalaburagi district as the national president, the election was a battle of prestige for the grand old party.
