Elections in Karnataka, a state in India are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India. The Karnataka Legislature 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 year1st party2nd party Others Total seats19521stINC 10KMPP 11119572ndINC 23PSP 1SCF 1, IND 12619623rdINC 25LSS 12619674thINC 18SWP 5 PSP 2, SSP 1, IND 12719715thINC 272719776thINC 26JP 22819807thINC 27JP 12819848thINC 24JP 42819899thINC 26JD 228199110thINC 23BJP 4JP 128199611thJD 16BJP 6INC 5, KCP 128199812thBJP 13INC 9LS 3, JD 328199913thINC 18BJP 7JD(U) 328200414thBJP 18INC 8JD(S) 228200915thBJP 19INC 6JD(S) 328201416thBJP 17INC 9JD(S) 228201917thBJP 25INC 1JD(S) 1, IND 128202418thBJP 17INC 9JD(S) 228
Legislative Assembly elections Election year Assembly1st party2nd party3rd party Others Total seats Chief minister CM's party19521stINC 74KMPP 8IND 1199Kengal HanumanthaiahKadidal ManjappaS. Nijalingappa
YearAssemblyParty-wise Details Chief Minister Party19521stTotal: 99 Seats. Congress: 74, KMPP:8, Independents: 11Kengal Hanumanthaiah CongressKadidal ManjappaS. Nijalingappa19572ndTotal: 208. Congress: 150, PSP:18, Independents: 35.S. NijalingappaB. D. Jatti19623rdTotal: 208. Congress: 138, PSP:20, Swatantra: 9, Independents: 27S.R. Kanthi S. Nijalingappa 19674thTotal: 216. Congress: 126, PSP: 20, Swatantra: 16, SSP: 6, BJS: 4, Independents: 41S. Nijalingappa Veerendra PatilCongress(O)19725th Total: 216. Congress: 165, NCO: 24, Independents: 20Devaraj UrsCongress19786thTotal: 224. Congress (I): 149, Janata: 59, Independents: 10 D. Devaraj UrsR. Gundu Rao19837th Total: 224. Janata: 95, Congress (I): 82, BJP: 18, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 21Ramakrishna HegdeJanata19858thTotal: 224. Janata: 139, Congress: 65, BJP: 2, Independents: 13 Ramakrishna Hegde S. R. Bommai19899thTotal: 224. Congress: 178, JD: 24, BJP: 4, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 11Veerendra PatilCongressS.Bangarappa M. Veerappa Moily199410thTotal: 224. JD: 115, BJP: 40, Congress: 34, KCP: 10, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 17H. D. Deve Gowda Janata DalJ. H. Patel199911th Total: 224. Congress: 132, BJP: 44, JD(U): 18, JD(S): 10, AIADMK: 1, and Independents: 18S. M. KrishnaCongress200412thTotal: 224. BJP: 79, Congress: 65, JD(S): 58Dharam Singh H. D. KumaraswamyJD(S) B. S. YeddyurappaBJP200813thTotal: 224. BJP: 110, Congress: 80, JD(S): 28B. S. Yeddyurappa D. V. Sadananda GowdaJagadish Shettar201314th Total: 224. Congress: 122, BJP: 40, JD(S): 40, KJP: 6, BSR Congress: 4 SiddaramaiahCongress201815thTotal: 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 BJPBasavaraj Bommai202316thTotal: 224. INC: 135, BJP: 66, JD(S): 19, Independents: 2, SKP: 1, KRPP: 1SiddaramaiahCongress
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