Karnataka: the INC years, 1957–1978
15 Assembly elections · 1957–2023 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Karnataka has voted in 15 Assembly elections between 1957 and 2023. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 9 of them — more than any rival.
Power has changed hands 8 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1957 to 1978 across 5 elections.
In 2004, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 79 of 224 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 132 to 65.
In 2013, Indian National Congress broke through — 122 of 224 seats — ending Bharatiya Janata Party's hold, which fell from 110 to 40.
In 2018, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 104 of 224 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 122 to 80.
In 2023, Indian National Congress broke through — 135 of 224 seats — ending Bharatiya Janata Party's hold, which fell from 104 to 66.
The sharpest single swing was 1989: Indian National Congress went from 65 to 178 seats, a gain of 113.
Indian National Congress's steepest fall came in 1994, from 178 seats to 34.
Most recently, in 2023, Indian National Congress holds 135 of 224 seats on 42.9% of the vote — a clear majority (113).
Pivotal elections
who held the house, seat by seat- INC12670%
- IND3318%
- PSP179%
- PWP21%
- Others11%
Indian National Congress · 52.1% of the vote · majority
- INC17879%
- JD2411%
- IND125%
- BJP42%
- Others63%
Indian National Congress · 43.8% of the vote · majority
- INC13560%
- BJP6629%
- JDS198%
- IND21%
- Others21%
Indian National Congress · 42.9% of the vote · majority
Every time power changed hands
- 1983JNP took the house with 95 of 224, ending INC’s run (151 → 82).
- 1989INC took the house with 178 of 224, ending JNP’s run (139 → 0).
- 1994JD took the house with 115 of 224, ending INC’s run (178 → 34).
- 1999INC took the house with 132 of 224, ending JD’s run (115 → 0).
- 2004BJP took the house with 79 of 224, ending INC’s run (132 → 65).
- 2013INC took the house with 122 of 224, ending BJP’s run (110 → 40).
- 2018BJP took the house with 104 of 224, ending INC’s run (122 → 80).
- 2023INC took the house with 135 of 224, ending BJP’s run (104 → 66).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.
- Bharatiya Janata Party broke away from Janata Party in 1980.
- Janata Party saw Bharatiya Janata Party break away in 1980 (formed by former Jana Sangh bloc after the Janata Party split); saw JNPSC break away in 1979; absorbed Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; absorbed Swatantra Party in 1977; absorbed BLD in 1977; took in Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; took in Swatantra Party in 1974; took in BLD in 1977; took in NCO in 1977.
- Janata Dal was formerly Janata Party (renamed 1988); saw Janata Dal (United) break away in 2003 (Samata Party + JD factions); saw Janata Dal (Secular) break away in 1999; saw Rashtriya Janata Dal break away in 1997; saw Biju Janata Dal break away in 1997; saw Samajwadi Party break away in 1992; saw Rashtriya Lok Dal break away in 1996 (via Lok Dal / Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party); saw Indian National Lok Dal break away in 1996; took in LKD in 1988.