As Karnataka seemed to go BJP way, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed surprise over the assembly election results. According to latest trends, the BJP is leading in 113 constituencies, while the ruling Congress is ahead in 67 seats.
"Et tu #Karnataka," Abdullah tweeted. The phrase, taken from Shakespeare's famous play Julius Caesar, is synonymous with betrayal. The phrase literally means "even you?"
In the play, the last words uttered by Julius Caesar are "Et tu, Brute?" as he is stabbed by his friend Brutus and other conspirators.
The National Conference leader, who is the part of the Congress-led UPA, had last year announced that the anti-BJP alliance must forget 2019 and must start planning for the 2024 General Elections. His reaction was after the BJP had secured a thumping majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
With Karnataka, the BJP would be in power in 23 out of 29 states in the country.
222 of the 224 seats went to polls on May 12. Polling for R R Nagar seat was deferred on account of alleged electoral malpractices, while it was countermanded in Jayanagar seat following the death of the BJP candidate.
After over 4 hours of counting, the BJP has extended its lead on 112 seats, one less than the magic number of halfway majority in 224-member assembly. The JD(S), which was hoping to play the role of a kingmaker in a hung assembly, is leading in 39 seats.
BJP's chief ministerial candidate, B S Yeddyurappa, was ahead in Shikaripura by a margin of over 27,000 votes, while JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy was leading in both Ramanagara and Channapatna.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was trailing by over 29,000 votes in Chamundeshwari, and leading by a slender margin of less than 5,000 votes in Badami.
Candidates of the BSP, a JD(S) ally, Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party, and an independent were leading the field in one constituency each.
In the outgoing Assembly, the Congress had 122 seats, BJP and JD(S) 40 each, and smaller parties and independents 22 seats.
Prominent among those trailing include ministers Ramamnatha Rai (Bantwal), H C Mahadevappa (T Narasipura), Santosh Lad (Kalagatagi) and Vinay Kulkarni (Dharwad).
Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa from Shivamogga, state minister Kagodu Timmappa from Sagara, and the chief minister's son, Yatindra, from Varuna were leading over their rivals.
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 "Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah")
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