Bangalore:

The battle of Karnataka Chief Minister probables isn't over yet. Many leaders have put their hats in the ring now - including frontrunner Siddaramaiah. A final name is expected after the state Congress legislature party meet later on Friday.

A day after Karnataka's definitive mandate for the Congress, the bouquets and tributes still kept flowing in at Siddaraiamaih's house on Thursday. But the question of whether he will be the Chief Minister or not is keeping him on tenterhooks as the race heats up. For now though, the backward caste leader is putting up a brave face.

There's a hectic lobbying on to crown Union Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge too. The Dalit leader oversaw massive gains in the Hyderabad Karnataka region. While Kharge plays down his hopes, he knows this is his best chance at the post.

And then there are the others who have put their hats into the ring, claiming credit for the party's success.

With so many claimants, the Congress is sending senior leaders AK Antony and Ambika Soni to convene a meeting. And perhaps hold one-on-one consultations too, to get the opinions of influential MLAs. For its choice of a Chief Minister has to bring in stability. And of course, win it a sizable seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com

New Delhi:

A day after its landmark victory in Karnataka, the Congress is yet to take a call on who will be the Chief Minister. Several aspirants are already making a pitch for the top post.

Frontrunner Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and is expected to meet her in Delhi on Thursday evening. Siddaramiah on Wednesday said, "I'm a frontrunner in the race for the Chief Minister, but will abide by Congress high command's decision." Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge is also being seen as the other top contender.

But other names like that of Union Minister Veerappa Moily are also doing the rounds. Reports said that a decision will be taken only after ascertaining the views of state legislators. However, KPCC chief G Parameshwara is out of the race after he was defeated on day.

It was a decisive victory for the Congress on Wednesday after a bitter battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What appeared to be a close fight ended with a win - the result brought the Congress to power in the state after seven years and for the first time in over a decade with a complete majority.

Battered by a series of scams at the national stage, the Congress put up an impressive show in the Karnataka Assembly Elections crossing the half-way mark of 113 seats in a House of 224, and going on to win a clear majority of 121 seats, obviating the need for crutches and belying predictions.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com

Bangalore:

Back in power after seven years, the Congress is still savouring the victory in Karnataka. But a day after the results, comes the big task - who will be the Chief Minister? For now, Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjun Kharge are being seen as the top contenders.

It was a decisive victory for the Congress on Wednesday after a bitter battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What appeared to be a close fight ended with a win - the result brought the Congress to power in the state after seven years and for the first time in over a decade with a complete majority.

Battered by a series of scams at the national stage, the Congress put up an impressive show in the Karnataka Assembly Elections crossing the half-way mark of 113 seats in a House of 224, and going on to win a clear majority of 121 seats, obviating the need for crutches and belying predictions.

However, a dampener in the victory was the defeat of the KPCC chief G Parameshwara from his seat and that defeat ends his dream of the Chief Minister's job. But one other major contender Siddaramaiah won his seat. The veteran OBC leader who fell out with HD Deve Gowda and shifted to the Congress has been the party's face in its offensive against the BJP and he made his ambitions fairly clear.

Siddaramiah said, "I'm a frontrunner in the race for the Chief Minister, but will abide by Congress high command decision."

Meanwhile, big question arises after a clear verdict is that can the Congress give a stable and decisive government to a state that's suffered from political chaos over the last few years.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com

Bangalore:

karnataka election result Live Update...... click here for read more.....>>>>>

The Congress returned to power in Karnataka after seven years, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a huge margin. Securing a clear majority on its own in a triangular fight, the party is now set to form the government on its own in Karnataka. The BJP suffered a major blow and stood neck and neck with Janata Dal Secular as the second spot.

Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janata Paksha could not make a mark and managed to win just a handful of seats. However, his absence from the BJP did hit the party hard leading to its massive defeat even though he won from Shikaripura by over 15,000 votes.

Political observers noted that the Congress managed to sweep the urban votes including major seats in Bangalore, where corruption was a major issue. The party did very well north and central Karnataka while the BJP lost badly both in rural and urban areas. Coastal Karnataka, Mumbai-Karnataka, Hyderabad-Karnataka and Central Karnataka districts voted against the BJP in a big way.

Lingayats, the largest caste in the state, seem to have returned to Congress. At least 40 per cent of the Lingayat votes went to the Congress. In Vokkaliga dominated Old Mysore, votes were split between the Congress and the JDS.

The BJP was wiped out in its strongholds including Udupi, Mangalore, Karwar, Shimoga, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum, Haveri, Davanagere, Tumkur, Mysore and parts of Bangalore. In the elections five years ago when BJP stormed to power for the first time in a southern state on its own, the party had won 110 seats against Congress's 80 and JD(S) 28.

Karnataka had recorded the second highest voter turnout in 35 years with a polling percentage of 71.29 in the May 5 voting. Although Karnataka Assembly has 224 seats, election in Periyapatna in Mysore district had been put off to May 28 following the death of a BJP candidate.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the result in Karnataka was a failure of the BJP ideology. Reacting to the poll results, Manmohan Singh said, "I congratulates the Congress for working hard. Certainly corruption by the BJP is a message of electorate. Corruption is a big issue for the country."

While the Congress celebrated, it now remains to be seen as to who will be the chief minister with party leaders Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjuna Kharge being the frontrunners. While party leaders said the party high command will decide on this, party president Sonia Gandhi said, "I am happy with the victory, it's a joint effort and legislators will decide the leader."

List of the Congress's many CMs-in-waiting:

The top three are the serious contenders, in that order. They have openly staked claim saying they are in the race for the CM's post.

S Siddaramaiah

Positives: Prominent Kuruba leader; strong in old Mysore region; consolidated all sub-castes of all OBC communities - considered the tallest OBC leader in Karnataka; was Deputy CM twice, made Opposition leader in 2009 despite being a newcomer; was known for some of the best budgets as Finance Minister - has presented 7 budgets in Karnataka.

Negatives: Still being considered an outsider - joined Congress just in 2006.

M Mallikarjuna Kharge

Positives: Seniormost Congress leader after SM Krishna; won ten elections (9 Assembly, 1 Lok Sabha) - never lost; one of the tallest Dalit leaders from backward Hyderabad Karnataka region - he is credited with special status for the region where Congress is likely to do very well; has held important portfolios like Home, Revenue, Water Resources, so vast administrative experience; was KPCC president and leader of Opposition twice; acceptable to the majority Lingayat community; family loyalist of the Gandhis.

Negatives: Doesn't have mass appeal in rest of Karnataka; being a Central minister can go against him.

Dr G Parameshwar

Positives: Younger than the others in the race, well educated, PhD in agriculture from Australia; appeals to the urban vote-bank with his eruditeness; family loyalist of the Gandhis; has the full backing of SM Krishna.

Negatives: Rank junior, seniors in the party may not accept him as they want their chance now, considering he could still have many more years in politics. OBCs are against him.

M Veerappa Moily

Positives: One of the seniormost leaders; vast administrative experience; Was CM earlier, was Opposition leader and held important portfolios like Finance, Home, Education, Parliamentary Affairs in state government; clean image; party loyalist; the dark hose who's trying to make a comeback in state politics.

Negatives: Hails from a minuscule community of Devadigas (temple musicians) so no mass/caste appeal; being a Central minister could go against him if party goes with its policy of not having MPs in a state role; may not have backing of many MLAs.

SM Krishna

Positives: Seniormost leader of the party; won first election in 1962; former CM, former KPCC president, former Speaker, held important portfolios in Devaraj Urs government and was MoS finance in Indira Gandhi government; also was MEA, was Governor of Maharashtra; Congress' biggest Vokkaliga face; urban appeal going with the Congress' IT image; compromise candidate in case of a serious tie.

Negatives: Age - he is 83, though he has tried to play tennis in front of mediapersons to prove he is fit and fine. Faces opposition in the Old Mysore region with the Ambarish brigade, launching an open war against him even during the last week of campaigning; his city-centric image may not help the Congress win its next election.

KH Muniyappa

Positives: Six time MP, never lost. Very close to the regional parties - JDS and KJP; he would be their choice in case of a hung assembly and they choose the CM - as they both wouldn't like any of the five above who are considered stronger leaders; A slightly younger Dalit face; a union minister for 9 years; could be the second Dharam Singh - Dharam was made CM in 2004 by Deve Gowda and pulled down in 2006 by Deve Gowda.

Negatives: Confined to Kolar; does not have a pan-Karnataka appeal; lightweight in the party; proximity to the Opposition may go against him.

BSY plays the spoiler, ensures BJP's defeat

Karnataka Janata Paksha chief BS Yeddyurappa, who in May 2008 was the toast of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after leading the party to power in Karnataka, is now seen as the man who single-handedly responsible for the massive rout the party suffered in the 2013 Assembly elections.

Even though Yeddyurappa won from Shikaripura by over 15,000 votes, his party was doing well in only a few seats. But his party has hit the BJP hard in several constituencies with caste playing a major role as the Lingayat community to which Yeddyurappa belongs deserting the saffron party.

In the 2008 Assembly elections the BJP won 110 seats, Congress 80, JDS 28 and independent and smaller parties bagged six. But five years later the Congress is well on its way to secure majority on its own with the JDS and the BJP fighting for the second spot.

Karnataka became the first South Indian state to have a BJP government with Yeddyurappa becoming the chief minister of the state. But soon he was facing allegations of corruption and nepotism following which the BJP leadership disregarding the majority view of its cadre in the state forced him to step down as the chief minister.

Yeddyurappa was finally forced to quit the BJP after he tried to browbeat the party in making him the chief minister again a few months after he was removed from the post. He then went on to form the KJP and vowed to ensure that the BJP was defeated in the state Assembly elections.

We will sit in Opposition, says JDS

Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda led JDS, which had hoped to play the role of a kingmaker in Karnataka, on Wednesday said it would sit in the Opposition. "..if people have blessed us to sit in the opposition, we will sit in the opposition," JDS state President and Gowda's son HD Kumaraswamy told reporters, as the results of the May five Assembly polls came in.

Kumaraswamy, whose party has not only retained its base intact but also eaten into the ruling BJP votes, said, " .. we will surely sit in the opposition and will safeguard the interests of people."

"We will accept the defeat. The people have directed us to sit in the opposition," he said. Kumaraswamy angrily rejected suggestions that the JDS had an "internal understanding" with the BJP. "..where have we supported the BJP?...where we have entered into understanding with BJP?.

"That's why I am telling it's the victory for media. Not Congress. Media only influenced the people", he said, showing annoyance with a section of media, for repeatedly projecting that the Congress would emerge victorious in the elections.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com

New Delhi,

May 8 : With the results indicating a possible resounding victory for the Congress Party, Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party will remain in third place in the general elections as well.

"Looks like the BJP will meet the same fate in the general elections. They will remain in third place in the general elections as well," Sibal told media here.

As per the latest trends, Congress is leading in 112 of the 223 seats up for grabs, while the ruling BJP is leading in 36.

Janata Dal-Secular candidates were leading in 42, while the Karnataka Janatha Paksha, which is led by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, is leading in 13 seats.

Counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections, which witnessed a 70.23 per cent voter turnout on May 5, began this morning at 8 a.m. amidst tight security.

The results of the vote count will decide who will occupy each of the 223 seats up for grabs in the state assembly.

All district administrations have made necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth counting of votes, as most of the final results of which are expected around noon today. The final tally will be announced this evening.

In each of the counting centres, 14 tables have been arranged to count votes cast in each constituency. It will be managed by counting officials, supervisors, assistants and micro observers.

Elections in Periyapatna has been postponed till May 28 following the death of BJP candidate.

In the 2008 elections, BJP secured 110 seats, three short of majority and formed the government with the help of five independents who were made ministers. Congress bagged 80 seats and JD-S 28. The overall voter turnout then was 64.91 per cent.

source:http://in.news.yahoo.com