Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday announced that the assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes is scheduled for May 13. The polling on all 224 assembly seats in the state will be held in one single phase. The current term of the Karnataka assembly will end on May 24.
The BJP is in power in Karnataka and the Congress is the main opposition party. Janata Dal (Secular) is the third largest political force in the state. The main contest in the state is likely to be held between the ruling BJP and the Congress while JDS could play a kingmaker's role if the state ends in a hung assembly.
Big issues that may impact elections in Karnataka
Scrapping of 4 per cent quota for Muslims
The Karnataka government last Friday took two major decisions regarding reservation in jobs and education. With this decision, the government abolished the 4 per cent quota for OBC Muslims and decided to keep them under 10 per cent Economically Weaker Section ( EWS ) category.
The second decision is that this 4 per cent quota has been divided between Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities. Post this decision, the quota for Vokkaliga has been increased from 4 per cent to 6 per cent. The quota for Panchamasali, Veerashaivas and other Lingayat categories has been increased from 5 per cent to 7 per cent. At the same time, the Muslim community will now get reservation under the EWS quota.
This decision by the Karnataka government may become a big issue in the upcoming election.
Other issues that may impact election
- Maharashtra border dispute
- Communal tension
- Tipu sultan
- Savarkar
- Hijab
- Corruption
How many seats in which region?
- Hyderabad Karnataka - 40
- Kittur Karnataka - 44
- Coastal Region - 19
- Old Mysore - 66
- Central Karnataka - 27
- Bengaluru - 28
Karnataka Assembly Elections 2013 and 2018 Results
In 2018 assembly elections in Karnataka, out of 224 seats, Congress got 80 seats, BJP got 104 seats while JDS bagged 37 seats. Earlier in 2013, Congress got 122 seats while BJP and JDS bagged 40-40 seats.
Cast factor in Karnataka
Despite all the issues in Karnataka, there is one such factor that may decide the outcome of the elections. That 'X' factor in Karnataka is the Lingayat community. It is believed that whoever gets the support of the Lingayat community, the chances of that party to win the elections are more. Lingayats constitute 14 per cent of Karnataka's total population, which directly impacts almost 110 assembly seats.
- Muslim - 12.92%
- Dalit - 19.5%
- OBC - 16%
- Lingayat - 14%
- Vokkaliga - 11%
- Kuruba - 7%
Religion factor in Karnataka
According to the 2011 census, Karnataka has 12.92 per cent Muslim population, 84 per cent Hindus and 1.84 per cent Christians.
- Hindu - 84%
- Muslim - 12.92%
- Christian - 1.87%
- Others - 1%
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