Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE Updates: Exit Poll reactions come in
- In post-poll developments in Karnataka, several prominent leaders have reacted to the exit poll published on Wednesday evening. Results are due May 13.
Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE Updates: Soon after voting ended on Wednesday at 6 pm in a single phase, exit poll results from various surveys showed the Congress party edging ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and predicted it may even gain a majority of its own in the 224-member assembly. ...Read More
Several exit polls said the BJP might end up with a little less than 100 seats, as the party is looking to script history by retaining its government in the southern state, which has not re-elected a party to power since 1985. Meanwhile, the Congress also aims to make a comeback in Karnataka, which it hopes would give the party a head start ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Regional party, the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) - which played the role of king maker in 2018 - is expected to secure an average of 20 to 30 seats in a do or die battle, exit polls predicted.
Several leaders have since reacted to the exit poll predictions, with BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya saying there is nothing that suggests that the Congress will have a ‘run away win’, not in voting percentage, and not on the ground.
Congress's Karnataka president DK Shivakumar also said he did not believe in the exit poll results, adding that they will cross the 146-seat mark.
Even though exit poll predictions are known to reflect the actual results better than the pre-poll opinion surveys, they are only meant to provide insights into what can be expected. The destiny of over 2,600 candidates lies in the sealed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and will be revealed on Saturday.
Follow all the updates here:
- May 11, 2023 04:08 pm IST
‘Strong possibility of coalition government with JD(S)’: says senior party leader
A senior JD(S) leader on Thursday spoke to news agency PTI and said, “There is certainly a scenario of a hung verdict, and the strong possibility of a coalition government with JD(S) playing an active role. Let the results come out formally; things will get revealed one after the other as to who will play what role.”
- May 11, 2023 03:06 pm IST
100% confident that BJP will form govt with majority, says Yediyurappa
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa expressed confidence in the BJP winning the elections with an absolute majority and refuted the possibility of a hung assembly.
"Even now I am 100% confident that we are going to form the government with absolute majority. There is no question of a hung assembly or a coalition government. We are going to get 115-117 seats so the question of joining with JD(S) right now does not arise. Let us wait and see," he said. (ANI)
- May 11, 2023 01:53 pm IST
Cong will form government in Karnataka, says Veerappa Moily
Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said the party will form a government in Karnataka as results of Exit Polls came in on Wednesday evening.
“According to my experience of 55 years in politics, the Congress party should get a comfortable majority. Congress will form the government in Karnataka,” he told news agency ANI.
- May 11, 2023 01:02 pm IST
Will win with comfortable majority, says Bommai on exit-poll
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai exuded confidence in the BJP and said it will come to power with a "comfortable majority" as per the party's ground reports.
"All the exit polls predicted that Yogi Adityanath will not come back but he came back in Uttar Pradesh. Last time, they (exit polls) predicted only 80 seats for BJP and 107 for Congress but it came reverse... We are confident with our ground reports and we will come with a comfortable majority," Bommai said.
- May 11, 2023 12:16 pm IST
Will get over 60% votes in Varuna, says Siddaramaiah
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah expressed confidence of getting over 60 per cent votes in the Varuna constituency.
"There is a tremendous response from the voters. I will get more than 60 per cent of the votes. Congress will form the government on its own. I am not going to retire but I will not contest elections. This is my last election," Siddaramaiah said. (ANI)
- May 11, 2023 11:28 am IST
I don't believe these numbers, says DK Shivakumar on Karnataka exit poll
Congress's Karnataka president DK Shivakumar said he did not believe in the exit poll results, adding that they will cross the 146-seat mark.
"My first reaction (to the exit-poll projections) is that I don't believe these numbers. I stand by my assessment, that we will win more than 146 seats. People are knowledgeable and educated and have voted considering the larger interests of the state. The double engine has failed in Karnataka," he said. (ANI)
- May 11, 2023 11:08 am IST
Keep an ambulance handy, says Amit Malviya on Karnataka exit poll
BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya said there is nothing that suggests that the Congress will have a 'run away win' in karnataka, not in voting percentage and not on the ground. "There are just Exit Polls and not the actual result. Keep an ambulance handy in case the result flips, which is very likely," Malviya tweeted. Read the full story here.