Karnataka Elections 2023 Results: BJP's Sadanand Gowda Says There Is A Tough Fight In Every Seat

Bengaluru:  The results will seal the fate of several heavyweights, including chief minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, Congress stalwarts Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy. Today's results will be crucial for both the ruling BJP, the opposition Congress and the regional outfit JD(S). 

According to the trends so far, Congress is ahead on 116, BJP on 72, JDS on 30 and Other on 6 seats in the 224 seat House.

Shettar trails

Jagadish Shettar trails by over 11,000 votes against BJP candidate Mahesh Tenginkai after 8th round of counting. Siddaramaiah, is leading in Varuna in Mysuru district.

 

BJP leads by 15,000 votes in Shivamogga where party replaced veteran leader KS Eshwarappa. Congress candidate A R Krishnamurthy, who had lost polls by one vote in 2004, is marching to victory in Kollegal reserve segment in Chamarajanagar district. He has a lead of 17,699 against his BJP rival N Mahesh, the sitting MLA.  DK Shivakumar leads from Kanakapura.

There will be a tough fight: Gowda

As early trends for Karnataka assembly elections results showed Congress leading, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former union minister DV Sadanand Gowda on Saturday said that there will be a "tough fight" as the grand old party has "joined hands" with the JD(S). 

 "The counting has just started. After 2-3 hours, we will get an idea but that too will not be final as there is a tough fight in every seat and I do agree with this; I am not denying this. It will be a tough fight because our opponents have joined hands together," he said while speaking to ANI.

 He further said that what appears between Congress and JD (S), the reality is entirely different on the ground. Notably, Congress and JD(S) have contested the Assembly polls separately. 

 On the question of the BJP's move in the case of a hung assembly, Gowda said the party will decide only after the result is announced. According to Election Commission's latest data, early trends showed Congress leading against the BJP and JD(S) in the counting of votes that began in Karnataka on Saturday.