Karnataka Election 2023: 'Congress will win at least 141 seats,' says Congress chief DK Shivakumar

According to Shivakumar, who is a Congress candidate from Kanakapura constituency, the verdict will be in favour of the Congress despite the money spent by the BJP and their big leaders campaigning in the election.

Team Newsable

First Published May 12, 2023, 4:29 PM IST

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Friday (May 12) junked the exit poll results in which the party, though it gains the highest number of seats, has to contend with a hung Assembly. He insisted that the party will win at least 141 seats and form a majority government.

There was a wave in favour of the Congress, Shivakumar said, a day ahead of Saturday's counting of votes of the Assembly election. He also ruled out the possibility of return of 'resort politics' saying that "era ended 25 years ago".

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"I don't trust exit polls. I have trust in 141 seats. Our sample size is much bigger. Exit poll sample size is small. There is a major wave in favour of the Congress," Shivakumar told reporters.

Stating that the exit poll results fluctuate by 20 seats, the Congress state chief said the number he has given will only increase and not decrease.

"I am not disputing the exit polls showing results in our favour. I thank them but we will get a clear majority. This is my firm belief," he insisted.

Explaining the reason behind his confidence of getting 141 seats, Shivakumar said he has been on the ground and has done his homework well.

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"Whatever money the BJP people have splurged, whichever big leaders may have campaigned and toiled here, yet the ballot is stronger than the bullet," Shivakumar said.

He also ruled out the possibility of a hung assembly and said the voters did not get scared of money and the misuse of the 'double-engine BJP government'.

"I am confident that by 1 pm tomorrow, the verdict will be out. There will be no hung assembly, he added.

Regarding JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy's statement that he was ready for a coalition government, Shivakumar said he does not know what Kumaraswamy said.

"HDK was saying his party will get absolute majority. He said this to instill confidence among his party workers. It is his calculation," the Congress state president said. He also appealed to JD(S) workers not to "waste their career" and instead to join the Congress.

"I am not the one to get retired. So long as I am alive and healthy, I will continue to fight and will be with the people," he said.

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(With inputs from PTI)

Last Updated May 12, 2023, 4:29 PM IST