Karnataka Assembly elections 2023, which are set for May 10, are just around the horizon. The major political parties in Karnataka, including the incumbent BJP, Congress, Janata Dal (Secular), and Aam Aadmi Party, released their manifestos one week before voting, turning the state’s political scene into a fiercely contested battlefield.
A Fierce Battle for the Dominant Vokkaligas
A large part of the political action in Karnataka has been centered on wooing the Vokkaligas, the dominant land-owning community in the Old Mysore region. The Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress, traditional rivals, have been vying for the Vokkaliga vote, which could prove decisive in the elections.
A Large Pool of Candidates and Voters
3,632 candidates submitted their nominations for the Karnataka Assembly elections, according to information from the Election Commission. The state has a total of 5,31,33,054 electors who are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations. There are 4,927 “others” among the electors, 2,67,28,053 males, and 2,64,00,074 females. The candidates in the fray include 2,430 men, 184 women, and one from a third gender.
The Rise of Young Voters and Persons with Disabilities
The Karnataka Assembly elections have witnessed a significant increase in young voters, with 11,71,558 registered as first-time voters. The state also has 5,71,281 persons with disabilities and 12,15,920 aged above 80. The ruling BJP aims to retain its southern citadel by breaking the 38-year jinx, while Congress seeks to take power to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With the high-decibel public campaign coming to an end on May 8 evening, all political parties made their last-ditch effort to woo voters. The final day of campaigning was restricted to door-to-door campaigns.
Counting of Votes on May 13
On May 13, ballots for the Karnataka Assembly elections will be counted, and results will be declared.
