JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy said, this defeat is not final as JD(S) has won 19 seats

The former chief minister, whose party won 19 seats in the assembly polls, extended best wishes to the new government coming into existence and expressed hope that it would respond to the needs of the people.

The Congress has registered a landslide victory in the assembly polls, with the party crossing the halfway mark, according to Election Commission data. The Congress has 134 seats and is currently leading in two of the 136 seats, which gives it a majority on its own in the 224-member state assembly.

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“I welcome the mandate of the people of the state. In a democratic set-up, the mandate of the people is final. I accept defeat and victory with equanimity. Though this defeat is not final, my struggle will not stop, I will always Will stay.” with people. I thank those who have blessed our party,” Kumaraswamy said.

The JD(S) leader defeated BJP’s CP Yogeshwar by 15,915 votes from Channapatna constituency, a traditional stronghold of the party’s old Mysore region.

Asserting that both victory and defeat were nothing new to him or his family, Kumaraswamy said: “Earlier (father and party chief) HD Deve Gowda, (brother and MLA) HD Revanna and I too had lost. We live, we serve the people.” with commitment. In the coming days, I will join the organization and work to build the party.

Kumaraswamy extended his best wishes to the incoming government and wished that it fulfills the needs of the people. “I express my gratitude to the workers, leaders and candidates (of JDS) who worked day and night for the party in this election. No one should panic for any reason, I am with you,” he said.

It was widely expected that the JD(S) would play a key role in government formation in the event of a hung mandate.