The Karnataka assembly election is one of the most anticipated political events of 2023. The election will decide the fate of the incumbent BJP government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who took over from B.S. Yediyurappa in July 2021. The main opposition parties are the Congress, led by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the JD (S), led by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
The election will be held in a single phase on May 10, 2023, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 13, 2023. A total of 224 seats are up for grabs, with a simple majority of 113 seats required to form the government. According to the Election Commission of India, there are over 5.2 crore registered voters in the state, out of which 2.62 crore are men, 2.59 crore are women and 4,699 are transgender voters.
The election is expected to be a close contest between the BJP and the Congress, with the JD (S) playing a crucial role as a potential kingmaker. The BJP is hoping to retain power by highlighting its development agenda, its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and its strong leadership at the centre and the state. The Congress is banking on its welfare schemes, its alliance with various social groups and its criticism of the BJP's alleged corruption and misgovernance. The JD (S) is trying to regain its lost ground by appealing to its core support base of Vokkaligas and other backward classes.
The opinion polls conducted so far have given mixed results, with some predicting a clear victory for the BJP and others suggesting a hung assembly with no clear majority for any party. The exit polls will be released after the voting ends on May 10, 2023.
The Karnataka election is seen as a crucial test for both the BJP and the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The outcome of the election will also have an impact on the political stability and governance of the state for the next five years.