The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com.
Karnataka Election Results Highlights: Congress has made a comeback in Karnataka, with its best electoral performance in the state since 1989. As per the results declared by the Election Commission in 223 out of the 224 seats, the Congress has won 135 seats, the BJP's tally has been reduced to 65 and the JD(S) 19. The final result in one constituency, Jayanagar, was awaited as a controversy erupted over the recounting of votes.
The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com.
A controversy has erupted over the counting of votes in Jayanagar constituency. Since the margin seperating the Congress and the BJP candidates was acutely low, a recounting was being conducted. According to the Congress, BJP leaders Tejasvi Surya and R Ashok had entered inside the counting centre during the recount of votes.
The Election Commission is yet to declare the final result from the constituency.
"I take responsibility of this defeat," outgoing CM Basavaraj Bommai reiteratd, after submitting his resignation to the Governor. Earlier in the day, Bommai had conceded defeat and held himself responsible for the BJP's poor-show in the assembly elections. The saffron party has been reduced to 65 seats, down from 104 it won in the last assembly elections. The Congress, on the other hand, increased its tally to 136 from 80 it had won in the last polls.
Bommai, however, had told reporters earlier in the day that the BJP will undergo an introspection and bounce back strongly in the parliamentary polls next year.
A total of 12 sitting state ministers -- Govind Karjol, B Sreeralumu, V Somanna, J C Madhu Swamy, Nirani Muragesh Rudrappa, Chnadrakant B Patil, K Sudhakar, MTB Nagaraj, Narayangowda, BC Nagesh, and Shankar Basanagouda Patil lost from their respective constituencies. Full report here
Congress state uit chief DK Shivakumar won with the highest margin among all candidates in this election, as his nearest BJP rival R Ashoka fell short of 1.2 lakh votes.
"Congress have 137 legislators as our ally Darshan Puttannaiah wonfrom Melukote seat. I've been told that Puttaswamy Gowda, an independent candidate, has also extended his support to Congress party. So now we have 138," Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
The Congress LegislatureParty (CLP) meeting, where the views of the party's MLA-elects would be sought on the the next chief minister, will be held at 5:30 PM on May 14, Randeep Surjewala said.
"We started from Mekedatu (padayatra). Then came the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir. We have won almost 99% of the seats in the route in which Rahul Gandhi walked. I thank him for that,"Congress national president Mallikarjun Khargesaid.
"It's a big victory. Through this, a new energy emerged in the whole nation. BJP used to taunt us and say that we'll make 'Congress-mukt Bharat'. Now the truth is that it is 'BJP-mukt South India',"Congress national president Mallikarjun Khargesaid.
Karnatakagavenew mantra to save democracy, ensured 'BJP-mukt South India', says Congress
"Karnataka has given a new mantra to save democracy. It's a pathway to save democracy and constitution across India. PM (Narendra Modi) said 'Congress Mukt Bharat' but the people of Karnataka ensured that 'BJP Mukt South India'. People opened shops of love and closed the shops of hatred," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said.
