Karnataka election results highlights: BJP’s Yeddyurappa says ball is in governor’s court, will do as he decides
Karnataka election results being declared by the Election Commission show the BJP emerging as the largest party in the assembly but short of a majority leading to the Congress backing the JD(S) in forming a government. Here are the highlights:
As the Karnataka election results showed the BJP had taken a big lead, the Congress reached out to former prime minister Deve Gowda’s JD(S) on Tuesday to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party out of power in the southern state that registered a voter turnout of more than 72% on May 12. The leaders from the BJP and JD(S) met Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala to stake their claim of forming the government.
In the state where exit polls projected a hung assembly after a bitterly fought electoral battle, the Narendra-Modi led BJP won 104 seats, the Congress 78 and the JD(S) 37. Others/independents won three seats. Results were being declared for 222 of the 224 seats in assembly, with voting in two constituencies countermanded.
Also read: Interactive maps that provide real-time data and analysis
Here are the highlights of the Karnataka election results 2018:
11:57pm: As counting for Karnataka assembly polls ends, the BJP wins 104 seats, emerging as the single largest party, reports ANI. The Congress party stands on the second position with 78 seats, while former prime minister HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) party bags 37 seats.
Apart from this, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party both won one seat each. Remaining one seat went to an Independent candidate contesting from the state.
11:40pm:
11:10pm: “I believe if the Congress and the JD(S) prove that they have support of 116 MLAs and the governor still does not give them the opportunity to form government, its reverberations might be seen in Parliament and it may be disrupted for several days,” says Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
11:05pm: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “unwarranted comments” on panchayat polls in West Bengal, the TMC says Modi’s remarks are out of frustration as the BJP could not win a majority in Karnataka.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before questioning us, should answer on the anarchy that his party has created throughout the country,” TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee says.
10:59pm: Twitter verifies JD(S) chief minister candidate Kumaraswamy’s handle. Kumaraswamy has 12,716 followers on Twitter, which introduces him as the former chief minister of Karnataka and JD(S) State president.
10:53pm: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Siddaramiah, HD Deve Gowda and other Congress and JD(S) leaders leave after a meeting in Bengaluru’s Ashoka Hotel.
10:05pm: “Karnataka assembly results have brought down Muslim representation in the assembly and this should be a cause of concern for every political party which believes in diversity and pluralism,” says AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
“I spoke to HD Kumaraswamy and congratulated him for his party’s victory. I am sure as he will discharge his constitutional responsibility in a better way as compared to his predecessors and Karnataka will progress under his leadership,” Owaisi adds.
9:40pm: “Tomorrow at 10:30am in BJP legislative party meeting, I am going to be elected as party leader. After that, all MLAs are going to meet the governor to request him to allow BJP to form the government. Now the ball is in the court of the governor. We will do as he decides,” says BS Yeddyurappa.
9:35pm: “There is a precedence in Goa and Manipur where the Congress, despite emerging as the single largest party, was not called to form the government. So it depends on the governor,” says West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
“I think because the Congress and Deve Gowda’s party has already requested the governor stating that they want to form the government together. We must give respect to our democratic set up,” Mamata adds.
9:27pm: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad says if the Karnataka governor invites BJP to form the government, it would mean that he was “openly inviting horse trading, corruption and defection in the parties.”
Azad says the Congress and JD(S) have adequate numbers to form the government and that the coalition would provide a stable government. “Should honourable governor invite BJP that means you are openly inviting horse trading, inviting defection in the parties and under the constitution, as the head of the state of Karnataka, you should not.”
9:25pm: JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy are in a meeting with Congress leaders including Siddaramaiah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, DK Shivakumar and Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru: ANI.
9:22pm: Union ministers JP Nadda and Dharmendra Pradhan made observers for Karnataka, legislative party meeting to be held at 11am tomorrow in Bengaluru: ANI.
8:27pm: JD(S) leader Baiju Narajan says G Parameshwara of Congress will be made the deputy chief minister.
8:24pm:
8:15pm: Modi says, “I assure the people of Karnataka, we are with them in their development journey. We will work for the progress of Karnataka.”
8:13pm: PM Modi says there was no barrier between the people of Karnataka and him. “I will always cherish the affection I received from them.”
“The scenes from the Panchayat Elections in West Bengal... It was nothing but a murder of democracy. From the nomination stage to the day of polling, where was the spirit of democracy? People were bullied,” says Modi. “People were not allowed to file nominations. It is not only the BJP who suffered. People from all the leading parties except the one that rules Bengal suffered. This is serious. A land as great as West Bengal has to see such sights, it is unfortunate.”
8:00pm: “At one hand, I am happy for the victory in Karnataka. On the other hand, the flyover accident in Varanasi has saddened me. I extend my condolences to the families of the deceased and assure that the government will do whatever it can to support the families,” says PM Modi.
“BJP’s victory in Karnataka is unprecedented because there is a perception that the party belongs to the Hindi-speaking parts of the country,” Modi adds. “Are Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, the Northeastern states Hindi speaking states? No, BJP represents India and our proud diversity.”
7:56pm: “Our government is committed to uplifting the poor,” says Amit Shah at BJP Parliamentary Board meeting.
“In 2019 we will not only form the government under the leadership of Modi but also form a New India in 2022,” says Amit Shah. The BJP chief says his party’s winning streak will continue.
7:50pm: “This is the 15th election. BJP has already won the last 14 elections. This is the 15th consecutive election where BJP is going to win,” says Amit Shah. “Today, the day of our victory in Karnataka, is an auspicious day for us. I want to thank the people of Karnataka for helping the cause of a Congress-mukt Bharat.”
7:40pm: PM Modi arrives at BJP headquarters for Parliamentary Board meeting. Amit Shah addresses BJP workers.
7:15pm: BJP legislative party meeting scheduled to be held at 10:30am tomorrow: ANI.
7:12pm: Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala cites “precedents” to emphasise that the post poll coalition of his party and JD(S) must be given the opportunity to take over the reins of power in Karnataka.
“We expect Karnataka governor to invite JD (S)-Cong coalition which has clear majority to form government in the state. As per constitutional and legal provisions, the governor has no option but to invite the coalition,” Surjewala says, adding their coalition has a clear majority with 115 seats.
6:57pm:
BJP president Amit Shah also arrives for Parliamentary Board meeting at BJP headquarters.
6:50pm: “I congratulate each & every Karyakarta of @BJP4Karnataka unit and Shri B S Yeddyurappa ji for their relentless efforts. Like rest of the nation, the great land of Karnataka has shown their unwavering trust in PM @narendramodi’s clean, transparent and pro-development governance,” tweets BJP president Amit Shah.
“I thank people of Karnataka for voting BJP as the single largest party. This mandate clearly reflects that Karnataka has rejected Congress’s corruption, dynastic politics and divisive casteism,” Shah says.
6:35pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes to Twitter to thank people of Karnataka for making the BJP the single largest party in the state.
“I thank my sisters and brothers of Karnataka for steadfastly supporting the BJP’s development agenda and making BJP the single largest party in the state. I salute the stupendous work of @BJP4Karnataka Karyakartas who toiled round the clock and worked for the party,” the PM tweets.
6:00pm: JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy and Congress leader Siddaramaiah address the media after meeting the governor. “Congress has given unconditional support to JD(S). JD(S) will form government with the help of Congress. Have informed the governor about our decision,” says Siddaramaiah. “The law is clear in this. In democracy the largest number has to be given power. We have the numbers -- 111, along with the JD(S) and two independents,” he adds.
Kumaraswamy says Congress has extended support to the JD(S). “JD(S) and Congress have given a letter to the governor. The governor has asked us to wait for other claims. I don’t know why the BJP has asked for two days.”
Congress leader G Parameshwara says the All India Congress party in Karnataka has given unconditional support to the JD(S) to form the government. “We have given it in writing to Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy.”
5:55pm: BJP Parliamentary Board to meet at 7pm at party headquarters in New Delhi today.
“As we will be the single largest party in the 224-member assembly, we will stake the claim to form the government. By precedence, the governor is bound to call us to explore government formation even if we fall short of the halfway mark (113),” BJP state unit spokesman S Shantaram tells IANS.
“We are open to JD(S) support, if need be, after all the results are declared. Our approach to JD(S) will depend on the number of legislators we need to prove majority in the house or win the confidence motion,” the BJP state unit spokesman adds.
5:49pm: JD(S) legislative party meeting called at 6:15pm today in Bengaluru.
“JD(S) and Congress have enough numbers to form the government. BJP cannot form the government without the numbers,” says Congress leader M Veerappa Moily.
5:32pm: Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy enters Raj Bhawan to meet the governor. HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S), Siddaramaiah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, DK Shivakumar and other Congress MLAs also inside the Raj Bhawan. Siddaramaiah and Kumarswamy waiting to meet the governor together.
5:30pm: Congress to hold all-party meeting at the state party headquarters in Bengaluru tomorrow at 8am.
5:26pm: “Just now we met the governor because we are the single largest party, and that he allows us to prove majority in the assembly,” says BS Yeddyurappa. The BJP leader says he has urged governor Vajubhai Vala to let him prove majority support in the Karnataka assembly.
5:18pm: BJP leaders BS Yeddyurappa , Ananth Kumar, Shobha Karandlaje and Rajeev Chandrasekhar enter Raj Bhavan: ANI.
5:12pm: “100% we will form the government,” says BS Yeddyurappa. The BJP leader says he along with Union minister Ananth Kumar will meet Karnataka governor this evening to stake claim.
5:10pm: JD(S)’s HD Kumaraswamy leaves for Raj Bhawan to meet Karnataka governor in Bengaluru: ANI.
5:05pm: “Congress and JDS have 117, we need 111 to form the government. Since we were in power, and we lost, we have given our support for JD(S)-led government. BJP has 104, we are ahead of them,” says Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress.
4:54pm: “I have taken an appointment with Karnataka governor for 5pm. We should be forming the government as we are the single largest party,” says BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, according to ANI.
4:45pm: “I am here with our independent MLA. The independent MLA Mr Nagesh and other MLAs are with us. We have the numbers. We want a secular government in Karnataka,” says DK Shivakumar of Congress.
4:24pm: JD(S)’s HD Kumaraswamy seeks appointment from the governor of Karnataka in the evening, writes we have accepted Congress’s support to form the government: ANI.
4:11pm: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah submits his resignation to the Governor: ANI. Siddaramaiah earlier said the Congress accepts the verdict in the Karnataka elections, will support the JD(S) to form a government.
4.05pm: The verdict is for the BJP and the Congress suffered a pathetic defeat, says BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa.
Congress is trying to grab power in Karnataka. The people have rejected the Congress and accepted BJP. People are moving towards Congress-mukt Karnataka: BS Yeddyurappa. “We will decide the future course of action after consulting leadership.”
4:01pm: Chief minister Siddaramaiah enters the Governor’s house in Bengaluru: ANI.
4:00pm: Siddaramaiah loses to Deve Gowda of the JD(S) in the Chamundeshwari seat by over 35,000 votes, Election Commission data shows.
3:40pm: JD(S) leader Saravana tells ANI, “Wait and watch, the cup will be ours.”
3:38pm: JD(S) had always maintained that HD Kumaraswamy will be CM. As per results, we are doing everything to keep BJP out of power. Congress has extended its support, we have accepted it. We will jointly go to meet Governor after 5.30 pm today: Danish Ali, JD(S)
3:35pm: Mulbaagal independent MLA who was backed by the Congress taken to a secret location in incumbent power minister DK Shivakumar’s car.
3:33pm: A Congress delegation led by G Parameshwara, who had gone to the Governor’s House, was denied entry.
Meanwhile, BJP’s JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan and Prakash Javadekar are going to Bengaluru today.
3:30pm: Reports say the Yeddyurappa is likely to meet the governor at 7pm today.
3:23pm: Leaders in Delhi also spring into action as both the Congress and the BJP strategise over garnering a a majority.
3:20pm: Siddaramaiah wins Bedami seat with over 1,600 votes, Election Commission data shows.
3:15pm: Sources say BJP has offered rotational chief ministerial position between JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yeddyrurappa. Two Cabinet positions have also been offered, sources say.
3:10pm: “So far the final result is not known. We will know shortly and then announce the future plan. I will consult all India [senior leaders] leaders and come back to you,” Yeddyurappa tells reporters in Bengaluru.
3pm: The Congress and JD(S) are jointly meeting the Karnataka governor in the evening today, says KC Venugopal.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said he has spoken to telephonic conversation with Deve Gowda and his son, HD Kumarawamy. “Hopefully we will be together.”
2:55pm: In their first public appearance with Ghulam Nabi Azad and Siddaramaiah, Congress leader G Parameshwara says, “We accept the mandate of the people. We bow our heads to the verdict. We don’t have numbers to form government. The Congress has offered to support JD(S) to form govt.”
2:50pm: Siddaramaiah says the Congress accepts the verdict in the Karnataka elections, will support the JD(S) to form a government.
2:45pm: Ahmed Patel flying to Bengaluru for talks with JD(S), say Congress sources.
2:40pm: Yeddyurappa has reportedly cancelled his Delhi trip as BJP sends senior leaders, including state in-charge Prakash Javadekar, to Karnataka amid talks of possible Congress-JD(S) alliance.
Unconfirmed reports said BJP has offered ministerial posts to the two Independents who have won one seat each.
2:30pm: The NCP says BJP’s performance in Karnataka was “unbelievable” as the results were not in sync with the situation on the ground. The Sharad Pawar-led party, which had extended support to the Congress in the Karnataka polls and did not field its own candidates, also demands that elections in future be held through ballot boxes.
2:25pm: The Congress has begun talks with the JD(S) to form a government in Karnataka. The plan proposed is to have nominees of the JD(S) and the Congress to take turns as chief minister.
2:30pm: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray reacts to BJP’s performance, “Just one time, I want BJP to head into elections with ballot papers and not EVMs. All the apprehensions will go away.”
2:20pm: Incumbent chief minister Siddaramiah is likely to meet Karnataka governor Vajjubai Vala later in the evening to formally resign. He will likely be asked to continue as the interim CM until the next government is sworn-in.
2:15pm: BJP ally AIADMK, too, congratulates PM Modi for BJP’s win in Karnataka assembly election. “Chief Minister K Palaniswami greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BJP’s win in the Karnataka Assembly elections,” an official release says.
1:45pm: BJP’s CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa wins from Shikaripura seat by 35,397 votes.
1:40pm: Many Congress leaders have won the election, you cannot write-off the Congress. It is, maybe, a set back for Congress, we will find out what is the cause of the setback: Karnataka minister KJ George
1:33pm: Congress is now opposing for the sake of it. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, we will certainly win: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
1:30pm: Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily describes says BJP’s victory in the Karnataka assembly elections as “quite disappointing” and attributed his party’s loss to “wrong caste management”. The Congress should not have raised the Lingayat issue before the election, Moily is quoted as saying by PTI.
He also defends Rahul Gandhi and says the Congress president led a “positive campaign” instead of PM Modi’s “negative campaign”.
1:25pm: Congress state vice-president BK Chandrashekar says the party failed to plan for the Karnataka assembly election and tell people about the government’s welfare schemes. “The party and its leaders, both in Bengaluru and Delhi, should have woken up much earlier and planned much better for the election to educate the people of the state about the Congress government’s welfare schemes,” he says.
“We should have strategised at least two-three years ahead of the elections by setting up a think tank in order to counter (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s charm,” Chandrashekar says.
1:20pm: DMK leader MK Stalin joins political leaders in congratulating BS Yeddyurappa on Twitter. He also told the new government in Karnataka to release the Cauvery water due to Tamil Nadu without defying the Supreme Court verdict on the river row
1:15pm: BJP’s tally, according to Election Commission, is 106, six seats below the halfway mark. Congress is leading in 73 seats and JD(S) in 40 seats.
12:55pm: BJP bags two seats -- Sulia and Mudigere constituencies.
12:52pm: Recently appointed I&B minister’s reaction:
12:51pm: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti congratulates the BJP for its “stellar performance” in Karnataka assembly elections. “Hearty congratulations to @BJP4India for their stellar performance in Karnataka,” Mehbooba says in a tweet.
12:50pm: BJP parliamentary board to meet at 6pm at party headquarters in Delhi today
12:48pm: The Sangha Parivar cadres have helped us enormously. In certain regions, like coastal Karnataka, Parivar has helped us a lot, says Madhav.
12:45pm: I would like to thank the people of Karnataka for this mandate. The credit also goes to the hard work of PM Modi and Amit Shah ji, as well as state leadership, party workers and RSS cadre. BJP’s southward march has begun: BJP national secretary Ram Madhav
12:41pm: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouan tweets, saying Congress should change it’s name from INC to ‘Congress PMP’ -- implying the three states where the party is in power.
12:40pm: As BJP inches towards a victory, EC data shows Congress’ vote share is marginally higher than the saffron party’s.
12:30pm: Siddaramaiah wins Badami constituency with a margin of about 4,000 votes.
12:25pm: Had the Congress formed an alliance with the JD (S) before the Karnataka assembly election, the poll outcome would have been “very different”, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee says, adding: “Congratulations to the winners of Karnataka polls. Those who lost, fight back.”
12:11pm:Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman says it is a historic day for the BJP and the win was an endorsement of Modi’s development agenda. People have rejected divisive, toxic and negative politics of the Congress, PTI quotes her as saying.
12:10pm: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad took a swipe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying somebody was dreaming of becoming prime minister, a reference to Gandhi’s statement during the Karnataka poll campaign that he was ready for the job if his party emerged victorious in the next Lok Sabha elections, according to PTI.
12:05pm: Five of the 7 JD(S) rebel leaders are trailing. Bheema Nayak of Hagri Bomannahalli and Zameer Ahmed Khan from Chamrajapet are the two leaders who are leading.
12:02pm: BJP celebration are on the upswing.
12pm: BJP is ahead in 11 seats, Congress 72 and JD(S) falls below its 2013 performance.
11:58am: Siddaramaiah gains some ground in Badami, is leading by 2,700 votes.
11:55am: BJP hovers around halfway mark, with a lead in 108 seats.
11:50am: BJP MP from Karnataka Shobha Karandlaje credits the party’s performance in the state to PM Modi and Amit Shah’s campaigning. “The mandate is clearly against the divisive politics of the Congress and arrogance of Siddaramaiah. The victory belongs to the extensive campaign by Narendra Modi, party President Amit Shah and our Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa,” Karandlaje says in Bengaluru.
11:42am: “Rahul Gandhi did his best, but it is us who have lost the elections. We, the local leadership, should have en-cashed it in a proper way, because of which we lost it, says Karnataka minister DK Shivkumar is quoted by ANI as saying.
He adds: “We were confident Congress would come back with a majority... I am also surprised by the trends. We will have to study what has happened.”
11:41am: The people of Karnataka want good governance, that is why they have chosen BJP. This is a big victory for the party. Congress is losing state after state & we are winning state after state: Prakash Javadekar, BJP Karnataka in-charge.
11:40am: JD(S) will hold its core committee meeting in the evening today. All winnings MLAs have been asked to come to Bengaluru.
11:35pm: BJP’s tally reduces by 2 seats. It is now ahead in 111 constituencies.
11:30pm: BJP leaders say Yeddyurappa will fly to Delhi at 3pm today. Oath-taking ceremony to be held on May 17.
Yeddyurappa had said on election day that he will fly to Delhi to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his oath-taking ceremony.
11:30am: BJP workers celebrate in Bengaluru as EC data shows BJP leading in 113 constituencies.
11:25am: Chief minister’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah is leading in Varuna.
11:20am: Congress rakes up the EVM-tampering row. “I am saying it from day one, there is no political party in India which has not raised questions on EVMs, even the BJP has done it in the past. Now when all parties are doubting EVMs, then what problem does BJP have in conducting polls through ballot, questions Congress leader Mohan Prakash
11:16am: “Et tu, Karnataka?” former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah quotes Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar as the Karnataka assembly vote count shows BJP crossing the halfway mark.
The National Conference leader, who was in an alliance with the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, took to twitter as the Bharatiya Janata Party appeared set to return to power in the southern state.
11:15am: Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot huddle up at CM Siddaramaiah’s residence as BJP looks set to win Karnataka elections 2018.
11:13am: Yeddyurappa wins Shikaripura constituency.
11:10am: Siddaramaiah’s lead in Badami is again down to 200 votes.
11:05am: Siddaramaiah is set to lose Chamundeshwari seat as he trails by over 21,000 votes.
In Badami, he isahead by 2,700 votes.
11am: Tally update -- BJP is now leading in 115 seats. Congress -- 64, JD(S) -- 40
10:55am: This is a historic win for the BJP. I want to thank all the people of Karnataka for voting for us. Ab desh mein Congress khojo abhiyan chalega, kahaan rahegi pata nahi (Now, there will be a ‘look for Congress’ scheme in India): Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh chief minister
If the BJP forms a government in Karnataka, Congress will be in power only in three states.
10:50am: In Chitradurga, Congress loses all seats despite a Lingayat pontiff openly calling for support to INC.
The Congress’ move to recognise Lingayat as a separate religion was expected to work in their favour in the Karnataka assembly elections. It seems the decision has not worked in their favour, if the trends materialise.
10:45am: BSP makes an entry into Karnataka, registers first lead in Kollegal. The Mayawati-led party is supporting the JD(S).
10:41am: BJP reaches the halfway mark. If the trends hold true, it will form a government in Karnataka with BS Yeddyurappa as the chief minister.
10:38am: The BJP spokesperson S Shantharam says the party has crossed the half-way mark in vote count. “We are in a jubilant mood because we have crossed the half-way mark. We are confident of winning,” Shantharam tells IANS.
The Election Commission has not declared the results, but counting of votes is on.
10:36am: After the sixth round of counting, Siddaramaiah comes back on top with a lead of over 3,500 votes.
10:35am: BJP is one seat away from halfway mark, after which it can stake claim to form the government after official results are confirmed.
BJP - -11, Congress -- 65, JD(S) -- 43
10:28am: Siddaramaiah is now trailing in Badami, Sriramulu is ahead by over 400 votes only.
10:22am: The margin of Siddaramaiah’s lead in Badami is just 100 votes. The final result could swing either side.
10:20am: A look at how the top leaders are faring:
In Chamundeshwari, chief minister Siddaramaiah is trailing by nearly 16,000 votes. GT Deve Gowda is likely to win the seat.
In Shikaripura, BS Yeddyruppa is leading by 18,000 votes.
In Molkalmuru, Sriramulu is leading by over 12,000 votes.
10:12am: BJP is now ahead in 107 seats. Congress is ahead in 70 constituencies while JD(S) takes the lead in 44 seats.
10:05am: There is no question of alliance(with the JD(S)) as we are already crossing 112 seats, BJP leader Sadananda Gowda says as BJP workers celebrate outside the party office in Bengaluru.
10am: Siddaramaiah is now trailing by 13,730 votes. Meanwhile, BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa is leading in Shikaripura by over 9,000 votes
9:51am:The correct position will be known at 11-11.30 am. I am going to discuss it (possibility of alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular)) with Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot, says Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge as the party trails behind BJP in early trends.
9:50am: First seat declared by the Election Commission goes to the BJP. Umakant Kotiyan defeats cabinet minister Abhay Chandra Jain in Mudabidri.
9:48am: Karanataka home minister Ramalinga Reddy is leading by more than 11,500 votes after fifth count from BTM Layout seat.
9:45am: Another Jarkiholi brother, Satish -- who is contesting from Congress -- is leading in Yemkanamardi.
9:40am: BJP crosses the 100 mark. It has now improved its tally by over 60 seats from the previous Karnataka assembly election 2013.
9:33am: BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia says the party is confident of winning the assembly election. “We will win with a majority.”
9:30am: BJP’s chief candidate and former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa is leading from Shikaripura seat by 3,420 votes over Congress’ GB Malatesh.
9:25am: In Arabhavi, Balachandra Jarkiholi -- contesting from BJP -- is winning, according to exit polls.
The five Jarkiholi brothers in Karnataka’s Belagavi district — Ramesh, Satish, Balachandra, Bhimshi and Lakhan — have amassed fortunes and harnessed political power by sticking together in spite of shadow boxing with each other from different political parties over the years. Read more about them.
9:20am: BJP workers have already started celebrating in Bengaluru as trends show a close fight between BJP and the Congress in Karnataka assembly election.
9:18am: These are initial trends,we hope Congress will form the government in Karnataka and is confident of it, but yes all options (on alliance with the JD(S)) are open, says senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot.
9:15am: Here’s a breakdown of region-wise constituencies:
Belgaum: BJP ahead in 6 seats, Congress in 4
Bagalkote: BJP leading in 4, Congress in 3
Kalburgi: BJP leading in 5, Congress in 4
9:12am: BJP leader Sriramulu is leading in Molkalmuru but he is trailing behind CM Siddaramaiah in Badami constituency.
BJP is performing well in north Karnataka.
9:10am: Siddaramaiah is trailing in Chamundeshwari by 11,624 votes, trends show.
9:05am: JD(S) chief minister candidate and Deve Gowda’s son, HD Kumaraswamy, is ahead by 1,000 votes in Ramanagara, official trends show.
9:02am: Siddaramaiah is trailing by about 8,000 votes in Chamundeshwari seat, reports PTI.
9am: Official Election Commission trends show BJP leading on 22 seats,Congress in 13 seats, JD(S) in 3 and others in 1.
Also read: Five reasons why Karnataka election results 2018 are important for Lok Sabha elections 2019
8:51am: Here are the regional trends. BJP leading in Hyderabad Karnataka. Congress in Central.
8:50am: Siddaramaiah is trailing in Chamundeshwari. The incumbent Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader is also contesting from Badami.
8:45am: Tallies of both the Congress and BJP stand at 57 seats as early trends hint towards a hung assembly in the state.
If neither party crosses the halfway mark, 113, JD(S) will likely play the role of a kingmaker as seats won by the former prime minister Deve Gowda’s party can decide BJP and Congress’ fortunes in the Karnataka.
8:40am: Early trends show Congress now leading in 54 constituencies. Crossing its overall tally in 2013 assembly election, BJP is ahead in 47 seats while the JD(S) leads in 25.
8:30am: The BJP is leading in one constituency and the Congress in 4 constituencies in Mangalore.
B Ramanatha Rai in Bantwal is trailing
8:28am: Congress trails by 2 seats behind BJP in Karnataka. JD(S) leads in 22 constituencies, according to early trends.
Congress - 41, BJP - 43, JS(S) - 22
8:25am: EVMs have been opened across counting centres in Karnataka.
8:15am: With 31 seats each, Congress and BJP neck and neck, early trends show. JD(S) leads in 18 seats.
8:12am: Counting delayed in Bengaluru rural seat by half-an-hour.
8:10am: Difference in Congress and BJP tally narrows to 8 seats. JD(S) makes small gains with leads in 9 seats.
Current trends: Congress - 21, BJP - 13, JD(S) - 9
8:05am: Early trends show Congress is leading in 17 seats, BJP in 7 and JD(S) in 6 constituencies, according to news channel NDTV.
8am: Election Commission begins counting of votes. Postal ballots will be counted first.
7:55am: Senior party leaders will decide on this, but we are confident and hope to form the government on our own, says Dr Yathindra,Congress candidate from Varuna.
7:50am: Congress workers hold a ‘havan’ outside the AICC office in Delhi.
7:40am: Senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy prays at the Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math in Nagamangala ahead of counting of votes for Karnataka elections results. He is contesting from Ramanagara and Channapatna constituencies.
7:20am: BJP’s B Sriramulu, who is contesting against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah from Badami constituency, prays before counting of votes begins.
7:15am: Chief election commissioner OP Rawat tells ANI the poll panel has deployed Central Armed Police Forces(CAPF) personnel in strong rooms. “Adequate security personnel presence will be there at all counting centres to ensure law and order is maintained,” he says.
11,000 police personnel, 1 Rapid Action Force (RAF) company and 20 Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) companies have been deployed across Bengaluru ahead of counting of votes for Karnataka election results .
7am: High security at 38 counting centres in Karnataka.
6:45am: Counting of votes will begin at 8am.
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