Global Courant 2023-05-13 23:46:49
ANKARA
According to official results, India’s main opposition Indian National Congress party won a key state election in the southern state of Karnataka, defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Out of a total of 224 seats, the opposition Congress party is ahead by one, with 135 seats, according to results posted on the Election Commission website of India on Saturday night.
The ruling party won 65 seats, according to the results of the state legislature elections, which took place on Wednesday and the counting began on Saturday morning.
The outcome of today’s election is considered important as it will likely determine the course of the general elections scheduled for early next year.
In south India, Karnataka is the only state where the BJP is currently in power.
Today’s victory for the opposition Congress party is its second major win in recent years. The party has been hit in a number of regional elections over the past few years, and its leadership is now making efforts to revive the great old party.
Supporters of Congress celebrated after the win.
The Karnataka elections were also the first since veteran Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lost his seat in parliament after being convicted of libel in March.
Earlier this year, Gandhi also marched from southern India to northern India in a march to “unite India”.
Gandhi campaigned aggressively in Karnataka along with other leaders.
Leaders of the ruling party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also campaigned hard. But analysts attributed the loss to multiple factors, including the absence of office and rising inflation.
Mallikarjun Kharge, chairman of the Indian National Congress, said the people were voting for a progressive future, prosperity and social justice.
“We thank them by clasping our hands for trusting us,” he wrote on Twitter.
Modi congratulated the Congress party on the victory, adding, “I wish them all the best to fulfill people’s aspirations.”
BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda conceded defeat and said the party “humbly accepts the mandate of the people of Karnataka”.
Nadda said that under Modi’s leadership, the BJP will “continue to work for the good of the people and raise their voices by actively playing the role of constructive opposition”.
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