Congress won an emphatic victory in Karnataka polls on Saturday, pushing BJP out of power in the only southern state it ruled, and boosting its own prospects for the electoral battles ahead
As the grand old party surged ahead on Saturday according to leads of the Karnataka assembly elections, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader BS Yediyurappa said victory and defeat are not new for the party and it will introspect the setback.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday exuded confidence and said that BJP will return to power in the state, while All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge said that they will see on Saturday after the results.
Hours before the counting for the Assembly elections in Karnataka starts, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai exuded confidence that Bharatiya Janata Party will return to power in the state while Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said that BJP's defeat in Karna
After much political effervescence in the tightly-contested assembly elections in politically crucial Karnataka, all eyes are on the counting of votes on Saturday when the results will be declared.
A day before the counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday held a key meeting with top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from the state.
Speaking to ANI, Tanveer Ahmed said, "We have already decided with whom we are going to form the government. We will announce it to the public when the appropriate time comes."
Congress is expected to have a clear edge in Karnataka in the assembly elections held on Wednesday with four exit polls giving it a full majority and some predicting a hung assembly with an advantage to the party.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party winning the elections with an absolute majority and refuted the possibility of a hung assembly.
"I'm happy that people are celebrating this festival of democracy in a big way. People are interested to bring BJP's double-engine government. BJP will form a government on its own," Joshi said.
"I request all people to cast their votes as early as possible. I am 100 per cent sure they will vote in favour of the BJP. More than 75-80 per cent will support BJP. We will win 130-135 seats," Former Karnataka CM said after casting his vote.