The Karnataka state election is seen as a test of the popularity of political parties. The results came despite major efforts by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win the election.
India's Prime Minister Naendra Modi himself stayed in the state for several weeks before the vote. The BJP has tried to appeal to Hindu voters in various ways, including outlawing halal meat and outlawing headscarves for female students in the south of the state. It has also been accused of being India's most corrupt government, especially after an official statement a year ago.