Karnataka bypoll results 2019: BJP wins 10 seats, Siddaramaiah Resigns as Leader of Opposition

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) govt on Monday retained the majority in the Karnataka assembly after bagging seven seats in the bypolls. As of 3.45 PM, BJP has won 10 seats and was leading in two others seats, where the counting is underway.

Following the defeat of Congress in the Assembly bypolls Siddaramaiah has resigned as Leader of Opposition, while Dinesh Gundurao quit as KPCC president.

"As a leader of the legislative party, I need to respect democracy. I have resigned as Congress Legislative Party leader. I have submitted my resignation to Sonia Gandhi, " Siddaramaiah said.

However, their resignations have been accepted yet.

On the other hand, BJP has expresses its joy over the bypoll victory. Senior leader BS Yaduruppa "I am happy that people have given a very good verdict. Now, without any problem, we can give a pro-people and a stable government."

Similarly, Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel said Congress and JD(S) have been 'disqualified' in the people's court.

"Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy had created a narrative of 'disqualified MLAs' to discredit our candidates, but today both the parties have been disqualified in the people's court and have given a verdict of 'qualified' to our candidates," Kateel added.

The elections had taken place at Yellapur, Ranebennur, Vijayanagar, Yashwanthapur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Chikkaballapura, KR Puram, Shivajinagar, KR Pet, Hunsur, Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Hirekerur and Hoskote.

These byelections were necessitated due to the disqualification of 17 MLAs. While elections took place in 15 segments, the polls in the two other constituencies -- Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Maski -- will be held later as the matter is sub-judice.

As many as 165 candidates contested the election, though it is, by and large, a triangular fight between the Congress, BJP and the JD(S).

The BJP has fielded 13 of the 16 disqualified legislators, who joined the party after the Supreme Court allowed them to contest the bypolls, as its candidates from the constituencies they had won in the 2018 assembly elections on the Congress and JD(S) tickets.

Also Read: Karnataka bypoll results 2019: BJP takes lead in early trends