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Karnataka election result 2018 highlights: BJP leads in over 100 seats
Karnataka election result trends show BJP leading in over 100 constituencies. Exit polls had predicted a hung assembly, with JD(S) playing kingmaker.
Counting for the Karnataka election results began at 8 am on Tuesday morning at 38 counting centres across the state amid high security.
In the 224 member assembly, a party or coalition will need 113 seats to form the government.
Also read: Track the Karnataka election results on our live blog and interactive maps that provide real-time data and analysis
Here are highlights as results are announced in Karnataka:
* Energy Minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar tells media that the numbers indicated that his party was on the way out after five years in power.
* BJP leads in 100 constituencies, Congress in 52 and JD(S) ahead in 37 seats, according to official trends. BJP spokesperson S Shantharam says it has crossed the half-way mark.
* BSP makes an entry into Karnataka, registers first lead in Kollegal. The Mayawati-led party is supporting the JD(S).
* BJP leaps forward, leading in 97 seats to Congress’ 65 seats.
* Yeddyurappa leads from Shikaripura seat by 3,420 votes over Congress’ GB Malatesh.
* Siddaramaiah trails by about 8,000 votes in Chamundeshwari seat. The Karnataka CM is leading in Badami.
* Early trends show Congress and BJP are neck and neck with 31 seats each. JD(S) leads in 18 seats.
* TV exit polls say could the results throw up a hung assembly with only a narrow margin separating the incumbent Congress and the challenger BJP. A hung assembly could position the Janata Dal (Secular), or JD (S), the third political force in the state, as the potential kingmaker.
* On the eve of the election results, Siddaramaiah said he was willing to step aside for a Dalit chief minister if the Congress leadership wante d him to.
* The Congress on Saturday took strong objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against its leaders at a poll rally in Karnataka and has written to President Ram Nath Kovind urging him to caution Modi against “unwarranted, threatening and intimidating” language as it does not behove him.
* A day ahead of the results, JD-S chief ministerial candidate H D Kumaraswamy was in Singapore for a routine health check-up.
* State fuel retailers raised diesel and petrol prices on Monday to their highest in nearly five years, leading Opposition parties to allege the government waited for the Karnataka elections.
