After Kharge Calls Local Body Elections Insignificant, Congress Emerges As Largest Party In The Polls 

During the counting of Karnataka’s local body elections, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that both the secular parties (Congress and JD(S)) stand ahead if they are counted together. “It is a neck-to-neck fight, and certainly the Congress is not lagging behind” he stated while giving an interview to ANI.

He also said that the urban body elections are based on minor issues, and the results don’t hold much significance.

Incidentally, following Kharge’s statement, Congress assumed a lead in the 2,615 out of 2,664 seats for which results have been declared.

As per reports, the Congress leads with a total of 982 seats, followed by the BJP which is at 929 seats. The JDS unsurprisingly has only scored well in the agrarian belt down south, where its stronghold lies. It has won on 375 seats.

Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy cancelled out his schedule for the day and was glued to his television set eagerly looking forward to the final tally,

Out of the 35 seats in Hassan, the JDS has secured over 17 seats. The independent candidates have secured a seat more than the Congress in that region, which could only manage to win two seats. BJP tallied at 13.