Channapatna election results Karnataka 2023: HD Kumaraswamy now leading with 46% votes

Karnataka elections results Live: After early setback, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, who is touted as the kingmaker for this election, is leading in the race in Channapatna constituency with a thin margin of 524 votes. As per ECI, he is leading with 46 per cent votes.

Channapatna is a key constituency in Karnataka. It is also located in Karnataka state’s Ramanagara district and comes under Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency, along with eight assembly seats. 

According to early trends, former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy was trailing. 

This time there is a close fight between HD Kumaraswamy and BJP's CP Yogeshwara. Besides, Congress has fielded Gangadhar S as their candidate. 

LIVE UPDATES 

The Congress is headed for a clear majority in Karnataka and appears on course to wrest power from the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress crossed the halfway mark around 2 PM and after six hours of counting, it was ahead in 137 seats. The saffron party, which was trying to retain its power in the only southern state, was leading in 63 seats. Meanwhile, the JD(S), which was wishing to be the kingmaker in case of a hung assembly, was ahead in 20 seats.

Failing to meet up to the expectations, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said the BJP has “not been able to make the mark”. He conceded defeat as Congress was leading in 136 of the 224 Karnataka Assembly seats, which was way above the magic number of 113. The BJP is ahead in 64, according to latest trends on the Election Commission website. The JD-S, which was hoping to be kingmaker, was leading in 20 seats. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said: “I thank and congratulate people of Karnataka, party workers and leaders.”

He added: "We didn't fight this battle using hatred," he says while speaking to reporters after Congress' massive win in Karnataka. "Karnataka mein Nafrat ki bazaar band hui hai, Mohabbat ki dukaan khuli hai."