Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday resigned from his post after the Congress was voted out of power in the Assembly elections. He met Governor Vajubhai Vala and handed over his resignation, official sources said.
As the state is headed towards a hung Assembly, the Congress announced its support to the Deve Gowda-led JD(S) to form the government.
Siddaramaiah, who contested from two constituencies, won the Badami Assembly seat in Bagalkot district but lost in Chamundeshwari in Mysuru.
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According to results declared by the Election Commission, Siddaramaiah won in Badami by a narrow margin of 1,696 votes over BJP’s B. Sreeramulu.
He lost to Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rival G.T. Deve Gowda in his home district of Mysuru by a huge margin of 36,042 votes.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy wrote to Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala informing him about his decision to accept the Congress’ support to form the government.
In the letter addressed to the Governor, the JD(S) leader wrote, he “has accepted the support extended by the Indian National Congress for forming the government.”
Read More | Karnataka verdict: Kumaraswamy accepts Congress support, writes to Governor
The BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, has fallen short of eight seats to touch the magic mark of 112 seats.
Congress, which has won 52 seats and is leading on 26, will be able to get past the crucial mark of 112 seats with the help of JD(S), which has won 28 seats so far and is leading on 9 others.
(With agency inputs)