Congress workers broke into celebrations in Karnataka and the party headquarters in Delhi.
The BJP has “not been able to make the mark”, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said conceding defeat as Congress was winning or leading in 136 of the 224 assembly seats in the state, comfortably over the magic number of 113. The BJP is ahead in 64, according to latest trends on the Election Commission website. The JD-S, which was hoping to be kingmaker, was leading in 20 seats.

“Once the results come we will do a detailed analysis. As a national party, we will not only analyse but also see what deficiencies and gaps were left at various levels. We take this result in our stride,” Basavaraj Bommai said.

Exit polls had suggested that it will be a close race – one that will see the Congress emerge as the single-largest party but not with enough to cross the 113-seat mark. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala exchange sweets as the party is set to win the Karnataka assembly election.
Congress started its poll preparation way before BJP, CM Bommai said while explaining one of the key reasons for the right-wing party’s defeat in the Karnataka assembly election 2023.

“I take responsibility for this debacle. There are multiple reasons for this. We will find out all the reasons and strengthen the party once again for Parliament elections,” he told reporters.