# Elections in Karnataka

Elections in Karnataka, a state in India are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India. The Assembly of Karnataka creates laws regarding the conduct of local body elections unilaterally while any changes by the state legislature to the conduct of state level elections need to be approved by the Parliament of India. In addition, the state legislature may be dismissed by the Parliament according to Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and President's rule may be imposed.

## Main Political Parties in Karnataka

BJP, INC and JD(S) are the dominant parties in the state. The CPI, CPI(M) and MES are the other active political entities in the state. In the past, the various precursors of the JD(S) such as JP and JD have also been very influential. Splinter groups such as KCP, KJP, BSR Congress, Lok Shakti and JD(U) have made their mark in a few elections. Erstwhile parties which have been influential in the state include Indian National Congress (Organisation) (NCO), Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP), National Development Party, Praja Socialist Party (PSP), Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP) and Swatantra Party.

## Lok Sabha elections

| Lok Sabha | Election year | 1st party | 2nd party | Others | Total seats |
| 1952 | First Lok Sabha | INC 10 | KMPP 1 | | 11 |
| 1957 | Second Lok Sabha | INC 23 | PSP 1 | SCF 1, IND 1 | 26 |
| 1962 | Third Lok Sabha | INC 25 | LSS 1 | | 26 |
| 1967 | Fourth Lok Sabha | INC 18 | SWP 5 | PSP 2, SSP 1, IND 1 | 27 |
| 1971 | Fifth Lok Sabha | INC 27 | | | 27 |
| 1977 | Sixth Lok Sabha | INC 26 | JP 2 | | 28 |
| 1980 | Seventh Lok Sabha | INC 27 | JP 1 | | 28 |
| 1984 | Eighth Lok Sabha | INC 24 | JP 4 | | 28 |
| 1989 | Ninth Lok Sabha | INC 26 | JD 2 | | 28 |
| 1991 | Tenth Lok Sabha | INC 23 | BJP 4 | JP 1 | 28 |
| 1996 | Eleventh Lok Sabha | JD 16 | BJP 6 | INC 5, KCP 1 | 28 |
| 1998 | Twelfth Lok Sabha | BJP 13 | INC 9 | LS 3, JD 3 | 28 |
| 1999 | Thirteenth Lok Sabha | INC 18 | BJP 7 | JD(U) 3 | 28 |
| 2004 | Fourteenth Lok Sabha | BJP 18 | INC 8 | JD(S) 2 | 28 |
| 2009 | Fifteenth Lok Sabha | BJP 19 | INC 6 | JD(S) 3 | 28 |
| 2014 | Sixteenth Lok Sabha | BJP 17 | INC 9 | JD(S) 2 | 28 |
| 2019 | Seventeenth Lok Sabha | BJP 25 | INC 1 | JD(S) 1, IND 1 | 28 |
| 2024 | Eighteenth Lok Sabha | BJP 17 | INC 9 | JD(S) 2 | 28 |

## Vidhan Sabha elections

| Election year | Vidhan Sabha election | 1st party | 2nd party | Others | Total seats | Chief minister | CM's party |
| 1952 | First Assembly | INC 74 | KMPP 8 | IND 11 | 99 | Kengal Hanumanthaiah | INC |
| 1952 | First Assembly | INC 74 | KMPP 8 | IND 11 | 99 | Kadidal Manjappa | INC |
| 1952 | First Assembly | INC 74 | KMPP 8 | IND 11 | 99 | S. Nijalingappa | INC |
| Year | Vidhan Sabha Election | Party-wise Details | Chief Minister | | Party |
| 1952 | First Assembly | Total: 99 Seats. Congress: 74, KMPP:8, Independents: 11 | Kengal Hanumanthaiah | | Congress |
| Kadidal Manjappa | | | | |
| S. Nijalingappa | | | | |
| 1957 | Second Assembly | Total: 208. Congress: 150, PSP:18, Independents: 35. | S. Nijalingappa | |
| B. D. Jatti | | | | |
| 1962 | Third Assembly | Total: 208. Congress: 138, PSP:20, Swatantra: 9, Independents: 27 | S.R. Kanthi | |
| S. Nijalingappa | | | | |
| 1967 | Fourth Assembly | Total: 216. Congress: 126, PSP: 20, Swatantra: 16, SSP: 6, BJS: 4, Independents: 41 | S. Nijalingappa | |
| Veerendra Patil | | Congress(O) |
| 1972 | Fifth Assembly | Total: 216. Congress: 165, NCO: 24, Independents: 20 | Devaraj Urs | | Congress |
| 1978 | Sixth Assembly | Total: 224. Congress (I): 149, Janata: 59, Independents: 10 | D. Devaraj Urs | | Congress |
| R. Gundu Rao | | | | | Congress |
| 1983 | Seventh Assembly | Total: 224. Janata: 95, Congress (I): 82, BJP: 18, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 21 | Ramakrishna Hegde | | Janata |
| 1985 | Eighth Assembly | Total: 224. Janata: 139, Congress: 65, BJP: 2, Independents: 13 | Ramakrishna Hegde | | Janata |
| S. R. Bommai | | | | | Janata |
| 1989 | Ninth Assembly | Total: 224. Congress: 178, JD: 24, BJP: 4, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 11 | Veerendra Patil | | Congress |
| 1989 | Ninth Assembly | Total: 224. Congress: 178, JD: 24, BJP: 4, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 11 | S.Bangarappa | | Congress |
| 1989 | Ninth Assembly | Total: 224. Congress: 178, JD: 24, BJP: 4, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 11 | M. Veerappa Moily | | Congress |
| 1994 | Tenth Assembly | Total: 224. JD: 115, BJP: 40, Congress: 34, KCP: 10, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 17 | H. D. Deve Gowda | | Janata Dal |
| J. H. Patel | | | | | Janata Dal |
| 1999 | Eleventh Assembly | Total: 224. Congress: 132, BJP: 44, JD(U): 18, JD(S): 10, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 18 | S. M. Krishna | | Congress |
| 2004 | Twelfth Assembly | Total: 224. BJP: 79, Congress: 65, JD(S): 58 | Dharam Singh | | Congress |
| H. D. Kumaraswamy | | JD(S) |
| B. S. Yeddyurappa | | BJP |
| 2008 | | Thirteenth Assembly | Total: 224. BJP: 110, Congress: 80, JD(S): 28 | B. S. Yeddyurappa |
| D. V. Sadananda Gowda | |
| Jagadish Shettar | |
| 2013 | Fourteenth Assembly | Total: 224. Congress: 122, BJP: 40, JD(S): 40, KJP: 6, BSR Congress: 4 | Siddaramaiah | | Congress |
| 2018 | Fifteenth Assembly | Total: 224 BJP: 104, Congress: 80, JD(S): 38, KPJP: 1, BSP: 1, IND: 1. Fifteen MLAs from Congress and JD-S resigned in 2019, forcing a major bye-poll. After the bye-poll, BJP added 12 seats to go to 116 MLAs in the assembly. BSY became CM. | H. D. Kumaraswamy | | JD(S) (with Congress) |
| B. S. Yeddyurappa | | BJP |
| Basavaraj Bommai | |
| 2023 | Sixteenth Assembly | Total: 224. INC: 135, BJP: 66, JD(S): 19, Independents: 2, SKP: 1, KRPP: 1 | Siddaramaiah | | Congress |

## Rajya Sabha elections

| Name of election | Seat No. | Previous MP | Previous Party | Date of retirement | Elected MP | Elected Party |
| 1952 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 1 | | | | C. Gopala Krishnamoorty Reddy | Socialist Party of India |
| 1952 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 2 | | | | K Chengalaraya Reddy | Indian National Congress |
| 1952 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 3 | | | | L. H. Thimmabovi | Indian National Congress |
| 1952 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 4 | | | | S. V. Krishnamoorthy Rao | Indian National Congress |
| 1952 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 5 | | | | M. Govinda Reddy | Indian National Congress |
| 1952 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 6 | | | | P. B. Basappa Shetty | Indian National Congress |
| 1952 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 7 | | | | M. Valiulla | Indian National Congress |
| 2020 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 1 | B. K. Hariprasad | Indian National Congress | 25-Jun-2020 | | |
| 2020 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 2 | Rajeev Gowda | Indian National Congress | 25-Jun-2020 | | |
| 2020 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 3 | Prabhakar Kore | Bharatiya Janata Party | 25-Jun-2020 | | |
| 2020 Indian Rajya Sabha elections | 4 | D. Kupendra Reddy | Janata Dal (Secular) | 25-Jun-2020 | | |
* Rajya Sabha Election, 2020.
* Four Candidates Elected Unopposed.
* Ashok Gasti, BJP
* Eranna Kadadi, BJP
* Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress
* H D Deve Gowda, Janata Dal - Secular