In terms of seats and vote share, the victory of Congress in Karnataka assembly polls has set a record that has stood for more than 30 years. With a vote percentage of 42.88 percent, the party has won 135 seats, gaining 55 more than in 2018. The 1999 election, when it won 132 seats and earned a vote share of 40.84 percent, was the closest the Congress has ever come to today’s result. It received 43.76 per cent of the vote in 1989 and gained won seats. "This victory belongs to the people of the state," said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge after the results. “People decided and chose. That is why we got 136 seats - huge after 36 years... It is a big victory...,” he said.
Updated On: 2023-05-14 06:05 PM IST
Compiled by : Editor
Congress workers at Bhagawan Sree Maruthi Temple following the party's win in Karnataka Assembly elections, in Bengaluru, Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Congress has attributed the victory to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. PTI Photo
Congress workers perform 'Urulu Seve' at Bhagawan Sree Maruthi Temple to celebrate the party's win in Karnataka Assembly elections, in Bengaluru, Sunday, May 14, 2023. Attributing the victory to Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party has won almost 99 per cent of the seats in the route in which Rahul Gandhi walked for Bharat Jodo Yatra. PTI Photo
Senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam offers sweets to party leaders and workers celebrating the party's win in Karnataka Assembly elections, in Mumbai, Sunday, May 14, 2023. The victory has come at a time when the Congress is seeking momentum ahead of next year's general elections. A string of state polls are also due later this year, including in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana. PTI Photo
Senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam with party leaders and workers celebrates the party's win in Karnataka Assembly elections, in Mumbai, Sunday, May 14, 2023. The party has won 135 seat. The BJP has won 66 seats with a 36 per cent vote share, and HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal-Secular won 19 seats with a vote share of 13.29 per cent. PTI Photo
Congress workers offer prayers at Bhagawan Sree Maruthi Temple following the party's win in Karnataka Assembly elections, in Bengaluru, Sunday, May 14, 2023. "Karnataka has given a new mantra to save democracy. It is a pathway to save democracy and Constitution across India. Prime Minister said 'Congress Mukt Bharat' but the people of Karnataka ensured that 'BJP Mukt South India'," said senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, who has been in charge of the party in the state for nearly two years. PTI Photo
Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar visits Kadasiddeshwara Mutt, a day after the party's victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections, in Tumkur district, Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Congress's big Karnataka win is a shot in the arm for Mallikarjun Kharge, who took over as Congress president last year. He is the first non-Gandhi to hold the post in 25 years and at a time the party was at its lowest ebb politically. PTI Photo
