As the Karnataka state elections unfolded, all eyes were on Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, and Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge, who was contesting from the Chittapur constituency. While some exit polls predicted a clear victory for Congress with a majority, others suggested a hung assembly.
In an interesting turn of events, BJP stalwart and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress, adding further intrigue to the already intense race. However, Settar is currently trailing by approximately 2,500 votes from the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency, where he has been undefeated since 1999, and no Congress candidate has successfully defeated him in the past. His margin of victory gradually reduced in his previous wins, but it remains to be seen who emerges victorious in this triangular fight, with Mahesh Tenginakai of the BJP and Siddalingaiah Mahant of JDS also in the race.
Meanwhile, in Channapatna, the wave of H.D. Kumaraswamy, the head of the Janata Dal-Secular, continues, as he is leading with more than 46% of the votes, while the BJP’s Yogeshwar is in second place with 45.43% of the votes. Congress’ Gangadhar S. has only been able to secure 3,901 votes.
In the Shiggaon constituency assembly seat, part of the Haveri district, Basavaraj Bommai, the current Chief Minister of Karnataka and BJP candidate in the assembly election, is ahead with 53.85% of the votes, leaving Congress candidate Yaseer Ahmed Khan in second place.
Siddaramaiah, Congress veteran leader, has maintained his dominance in Varuna, Mysuru district, with 61.54% of the votes, while BJP’s V. Somanna trails with 30,048 votes.
In Chittapur, Priyank Kharge, son of Mallikarjun Kharge, the national president of the Congress party, is leading the Congress to victory with 81,323 votes, while BJP candidate Manikant Raot has received 67,450 votes. However, during the discussion, an accusation surfaced that Raot had created a conspiracy to assassinate the Congress party president and his family.
In Thirthahalli, Karnataka’s Home Minister Araga is competing against Congress’ candidate Ratna Karan. Initially, Araga was trailing behind Ratna Karan, but he has taken the lead, with 65,256 votes to Karan’s 56,763 votes.
In Kanakpur, Congress leader DK Shivakumar has won for the eighth time with over 72.59% of the votes, securing victory with a total of 77,891 votes, while Janata Dal-S candidate B. Nagaraju received 13,634 votes.
As the vote count continues, the final outcome of the Karnataka state elections remains uncertain, with both Congress and BJP leaders vying for the majority.
Also Read: Karnataka Elections: Cong’s Uprising Or BJP’s Mission South; Results Will Tell
