The Congress on Saturday swiped the Karnataka assembly elections by a majority of 135 seats in the 224-member assembly and returned to power in the state.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) data, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state was decimated to 66 seats while Janata Dal (Secular) secured only 19 seats. On the other hand, independent candidates won two seats, and the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.

All eyes are now on who the Congress will pick as the next chief minister of the state. The Congress had not won a single state election since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, barring Himachal Pradesh. And for the BJP, Karnataka was the only bastion of South India where it had power.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the win as the victory of the people's strength over crony capitalism. Addressing the workers at the party headquarters in New Delhi, Gandhi thanked the people of Karnataka and said that hate lost to love and this will happen in all other states.

Meanwhile, speaking to media persons after the results were declared, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “As I said, Congress’s return to power in Karnataka is a huge responsibility. We went to the people with a few guarantees and we have to fulfill them. We have to work for the people. Public will tell us what will happen next.”

Meanwhile, Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah said the outcome of the Karnataka Assembly elections will be a stepping stone for the party’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He also hoped that former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi would become the Prime Minister. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Congress and extended his best wishes to the party in fulfilling people’s aspirations.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “Congratulations to the Congress Party for their victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. My best wishes to them in fulfilling people’s aspirations.”