The counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 is underway and the political circles are abuzz with speculations. While the Congress started celebrating at its Delhi office, the BJP is cautious in its approach. In the midst of a BJP vs Congress battle, the JD(S) may once again emerge as the kingmaker as the elephant in the room. Most exit polls have supported the Congress while some have projected the BJP as the single largest party. However, JD(S) may hold the key as it is projected to win around 30-40 seats this time. Speaking to the media, JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy said that so far no party has approached him and the party has already decided whom it will support in the event of a hung assembly.
JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said, “No one has approached me so far. According to your exit polls, there is no need for an alternative. There is no plan for me, I am a small party.” The JD(S) chief, however, said that he did not trust the exit polls and would wait for the results.
Asked about post-poll alliance, Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) has already decided and left the decision to the people. Asked whether he would claim the CM’s post, Kumaraswamy said he is the leader of a small party and cannot demand the CM’s post. It may be recalled that in the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections that resulted in a hung mandate, the Congress joined hands with the JD(S) and Kumaraswamy was made the chief minister. However, the government fell due to defection.
Counting continues at 36 centers At district headquarters across Karnataka. Authorities imposed curfew in capital Bengaluru and communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district to avoid untoward incidents and maintain law and order situation. The assembly elections in the state are being touted as the semi-finals of the Lok Sabha elections as it will set the course for the 2024 parliamentary elections. The majority mark in the 224-member state legislature is 113.
Intense competition and campaigning for the seat of power in Karnataka by the Congress, the BJP and the JD(S) has raised curiosity about the results across the country. The BJP is still claiming that it will get a majority as per reports from booth level workers and wants to create history as no party has returned to power in Karnataka since 1985. The Congress is also brimming with confidence and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar has announced that the party will comfortably win 141 seats. JD(S) is expected to win 30 to 40 seats. Of the 2,613 candidates, 2,427 are male and 185 are female. One candidate belongs to the second category.