Both BJP's Yeddyurappa and JD(S)' Kumaraswamy eye the throne, while Karnataka heads towards hung Assembly
Karnataka election result 2018: As the counting of votes came to a close on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 103 seats but fell short of forming a majority (112). All three major parties — BJP, Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) rushed to Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala’s residence to stake its claim to form the government. Desperate to halt BJP’s southern march, Sonia Gandhi reportedly rang up HD Kumaraswamy and offered support to the JD(S), with him as the Chief Minister of the state. Soon after, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor.
With Modi wave still riding high, BJP forged ahead by winning 103 seats and leading in one. The ruling Congress, desperate to retain power in the state amid shrinking appeal nationally, suffered major blows and had managed to win 78 seats by 11:23 pm. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lost from Chamundeshwari. JD(S) had won 37 seats, whereas Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and independents had won one seat each.
All eyes are now on Governor Vajubhai Vala who will have to decide whether to call BJP, the single largest winner of seats, to try to form the government or go with the JD(S)-Congress combine, which together have a clear majority in the 224-member Assembly. Elections were held for 222 seats on May 12. Both sides rushed to meet Vala, their vehicles slowly cutting through the throngs of party workers and supporters assembled outside the Raj Bhavan gates, and staked claim to power.
BJP's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa accused Congress of trying to win power unfairly. He said he would stake claim to form the government.
A sombre-looking Yeddyurappa said the people of Karnataka had rejected the Siddaramaiah government "lock, stock and barrel". "The Congress is trying to subvert the popular mandate and come back to power through the back door. People of Karnataka will never accept this," he said.
The Karnataka Assembly has 222 seats and a party or an alliance needs 112-seats to stake a claim form the government.
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