The Karnataka assembly elections held on May 10, have been hotly contested between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Indian National Congress. The vote counting began earlier today, and according to early trends, the BJP has taken the lead in postal ballots, leading in 98 seats. As per the majority mark of 113 out of 224 seats in the assembly, the BJP has emerged victorious in 22 constituencies so far.
The counting process will determine the political future of major figures including BJP Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy. Interestingly, the outcome of the election is predicted to result in a hung assembly, with the possibility of no clear majority for any one party. This is based on exit polls conducted prior to the vote.
Some key constituencies, such as Shiggaon, Varuna, Kanakapura, and Hubali-Dharwad Central, are set to see interesting contests between political heavyweights. While the BJP has promised the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and the National Register of Citizens in their party manifesto, the Congress is hoping for a morale booster victory to give them momentum ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
It remains to be seen whether the JD(S) will emerge as the “kingmaker” or the “king” in the event of a hung verdict, as they have done in the past. As the counting process continues, the political landscape of Karnataka is set to be shaped for the next five years.
