The Janata Dal (Secular) is predicted to play the kingmaker again in the state.
Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar's reputation is on the line this time. Having walked out of BJP, Shettar is fighting this election on a Congress ticket. The BJP has fielded Mahesh Tenginkai, and AAP has fielded Vikas Soppin.
This year, four time MLA C T Ravi is seeking his re-election for the fifth time.
Bommai's image has taken a beating since he became the CM in 2021. His inability to check mismanagement and corruption in the government — something he himself has been accused of — has put a blot on his career.
Kumaraswamy is facing stiff competition in his home base from BJP leader CP Yogeshwara, who has won the Assembly polls five times but was defeated by Kumaraswamy in 2018.
While the ruling BJP has promised to set up steel and power plants in the constituency, Congress wants to develop it into a jeans hub
In another incident at Sanjeevarayanakote in Ballari district, some Congress and the BJP workers came to blows.
The Marathis in the constituency have given a call to boycott the BJP in these elections. Since they comprise about a third of the eligible voters, this could go against the party.
At Masabinal village in Basavana Bagewadi taluk of Vijayapura district, several angry villagers destroyed some electronic voting machines, VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines and damaged the vehicles of polling officers, after "rumours" that the officials were "changing" the EVMs and VVPATs.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP could not "give a single house, complete irrigation projects" and reduced free rice for each member of below poverty line (BPL) families from 7 kg to 4 kg per month under the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme.
NR Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty stressed on people getting out to vote, particularly youngsters.
Both the BJP and the Congress have fielded new entrants in this assembly constituency.
Contending that the BJP government is making efforts to control price rise, she hit out at the Congress saying that it doesn't have any right to criticise the Centre on the issue as inflation was constantly high during its tenure.
Shikaripura is the only assembly segment in Karnataka that the BJP has won consistently. Since its formation in 1980, the BJP has lost the constituency only twice
Speaking to reporters here after casting his vote at a government school in Haveri district, Bommai, who is seeking re-election from Shiggaon segment for a fourth consecutive term, said he would win with a record margin.
"First, we vote and then we say this is good and this is not good. But if we don't do that, then we have no rights to criticise," 76-year-old Narayana Murthy said after exercising his franchise in the morning here.
Accompanied by son Bharath Bommai and other family members, he paid temple visits in the constituency before voting at a government school in Shiggaon, from where he is seeking re-election for the fourth consecutive term.
Polling for the high voltage Karnataka Assembly Elections kicked off early in the morning today and notable personalities were seen casting their vote and urged the citizens of the state to exercise their democratic right.
Melukote assembly segment in Mandya recorded a polling percentage of 90.93%, the CV Raman Nagar constituency in Bengaluru recorded only 47.43%.
Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Narayana Murthy, 76, said the onus is on the elders to urge young people to vote. He cited the time from his youth when his parents ensured that he cast his vote.
An aggregate of the major surveys suggest that the Congress holds an edge in a tight battle against the incumbent BJP. A possibility of a hung assembly cannot be ruled out, which will allow the JD(S) to play the role of kingmaker.
Voting for the high stakes Assembly elections in Karnataka began early on Wednesday, in a state where the ruling BJP is eyeing to script history by retaining its southern citadel while a combative Congress eyes a comeback ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Voting for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Karnataka began early on Wednesday in a state where the ruling BJP is eyeing to script history by retaining its southern citadel while a combative Congress is seeking a comeback ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Siddalinga Swamiji, seer of the Tumakuru-based Siddaganga Mutt; actor Ramesh Arvind, senior Congress leader G Parameshwara, and ministers including R Ashoka, Araga Jnanendra, C N Ashwath Narayan and K Sudhakar exercised their franchise in the initial hours of polling, which began at 7 am.
Karnataka is voting to elect a new government, with the incumbent BJP facing the challenge from the Congress. The Janata Dal (Secular) is third main player in the contest.