Karnataka polls on May 10, counting on 13, by polls not declared in Wayanad

NEW DELHI: The election commission has announced the dates for the Karnataka Assembly elections. The commission while addressing the press said the elections will be held on May 10 and the votes will be counted on May 13. Meantime, the commission has not declared the by polls in Wayanad. The chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said though Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha in the defamation case, they are in no hurry to conduct the polls.

The commission said the by polls can be held in Wayanad in six months. The trail court has given Rahul one month’s time to file an appeal. A decision will be taken after that, the commission said. The commission considered the vacancies till February 2023.

#WATCH | The party and the government are absolutely ready for the elections. Preparations are already underway. We are just waiting for the ECI to announce the dates. We are sure to come back to power with huge majority: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai pic.twitter.com/SHp4fZgaYG

— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2023

The elections will be held for 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka. 36 seats are reserved for SC category and 15 for ST category. The election commission has informed that people with disabilities and those above 80 years of age can vote from home this time. There are 12.15 lakh people above 80. Out of this, 16,976 people are above 100. 5.55 lakh people are differently abled.

#WATCH | Congress is ready for elections, we want this govt to be dismissed. The earlier this govt is dismissed, the better it is for the state & country. This election will be development-oriented & for a corruption-free state & country: Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar pic.twitter.com/Rn6A53fCtE

— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2023

There are 9.17 lakh new voters in Karnataka when compared to last election. A total of 5.21 crore voters. Out of this, there are 2,62,42,561 males, 2,59,26,319 females and 4699 transgenders. The commission clarified that those who turn 18 years of age on April 1 can also vote. 58,282 polling stations have been set up across the state.

The ruling BJP has 119 MLAs, Congress has 75 MLAs and JD (S) has 28 MLAs presently in Karnataka. The BJP is on the move to retain power. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the BJP would return to power with a large majority.

Meantime, Karnataka Congress head D K Sivakumar said they are ready to face the polls.