On May 13 Cong will have 141 seats in Karnataka: DKShi makes bold prediction ahead of assembly polls
Bengaluru: In a recent interview with India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai, senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar expressed his confidence in the party's victory in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. Shivakumar predicted that the Congress would win at least 141 seats in the state, which has a total of 224 seats.
Rajdeep who was interviewing Shivakumar asked the KPCC President to give him a certain number that he believes party will undoubtedly secure when the results of the elections come out. “My number for Karnataka on May 13 is 141,” Shivakumar replied.
Shivakumar, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders in Karnataka politics, attributed the Congress' potential victory to the party's strong base and the leadership of the party's high command. He stated that the Congress had a "solid structure" in Karnataka and that the party's grassroots workers were highly motivated to ensure the party's victory.
When asked about the opposition's chances, Shivakumar was dismissive, stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) were "not a factor" in the upcoming elections. He said that the people of Karnataka had "seen through" the BJP and JDS' "empty promises" and would vote for the Congress in large numbers.
Shivakumar also spoke about the Congress' vision for Karnataka, stating that the party would focus on development, job creation, and social welfare if elected to power. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that every citizen of Karnataka had access to basic amenities such as clean water, healthcare, and education.
In conclusion, Shivakumar's prediction of the Congress winning at least 141 seats in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections has raised expectations and excitement among Congress supporters in the state.
The Karnataka Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in May 2023.
.@DKShivakumar to @sardesairajdeep: Congress will win 141 seats in Karnataka pic.twitter.com/pvfwPnXqY5
— Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) April 6, 2023
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
