Karnataka Mandate: Early trends show Congress in Lead as Counting of Votes Continues

Bengaluru: The counting of votes began in Karnataka at 8 am on Saturday. This counting is to decide the fate of 2,615 candidates. To form the government, a party or a coalition needs 113 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly.

Exit polls have predicted an edge for the Congress in a close contest with the BJP. Some have predicted a hung assembly where  the JD(S) could play kingmaker. Follow IndiaToday.

After over an hour of counting of votes, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar was leading in Kanakapura constituency. BJP candidate R Ashoka was trailing. On the other hand, senior BJP leader and Lingayat strongman Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra was trailing in the Shikaripura seat. BJP candidate Janardhan Reddy was leading in Gangavathi constituency.

The Congress was quick to take the lead in early trends as counting of votes for the crucial Karnataka Assembly poll 2023 is underway.

The strong rooms were opened at 7 am on Saturday and the process of counting began at 8 am amid elaborate security arrangements.

Postal ballots were counted first. The counting will be taken up in 36 centres in district headquarters across the state.

The Assembly poll in the state is said to be the semi-finals for the Lok Sabha elections as it will set the tone for the 2024 parliamentary elections.