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Addressing reporters following the results, Shivakumar said, “Today, the election was not expected. I thought that there would be no elections. But the JDS and BJP wanted to fight the elections.” He added that the Congress high command had finalized candidates “who have been working in the party throughout the country.”

“Today, a very big mandate has been given among the legislators. Many from different political parties, cutting across party lines, have voted in favor of the government. They have agreed on the policies,” he said. “I thank all the legislators who have helped us, who have voted for us… We stood unitedly, and these are the results of the unity of the Congress party in the country,” Shivakumar added.

The Congress, which holds 135 MLAs, polled 151 votes in the election, with all five of its candidates declared elected in the first round. The BJP won two seats, while the JD(S) candidate was unsuccessful.

Although the BJP has 64 MLAs, its two candidates received only 56 votes combined, eight fewer than expected. BJP candidate Lingaraj Patil received 27 votes against the 30 assigned to him, while Raghu K polled 29, one short of his quota.

JD(S) has 18 MLAs, but its candidate secured only 14 votes. Under the NDA agreement, three BJP MLAs were assigned to vote for the JD(S) candidate, raising the JD(S) tally to 21. Nevertheless, the JD(S) candidate received just 14 votes, seven fewer than anticipated.

The results suggest cross-voting occurred within both BJP and JD(S) ranks. Earlier, Shivakumar said there was no information about cross-voting. “Some of them might have cast a conscience vote, and allegations made by the BJP and JDS are a frustration,” he said.

Election officials have not yet provided clarity on the exact number of cross-votes and invalid votes.