Election Commission likely to declare Karnataka Assembly elections schedule on Tuesday

The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the schedule for Karnataka assembly elections today.

NEW DELHI: The schedule for Karnataka Assembly elections could be declared on Tuesday. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce it at around 11 am. The term of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly will end on May 28.

With the date of Karnataka polls nearing, the political battle on the ground between leading parties has heated up. Incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is eyeing a second term in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is currently in power in 20 states, is trying to expand its saffron wing in the 21st state. The party's chief ministerial candidate is BS Yeddyurappa. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) is the third party in the fray.

In 2013, the Congress had won secured 122 seats. 

The Model Code of Conduct will kick in as soon as the EC declares the election schedule.

Both the Congress and the BJP have launched high-pitched political campaigns in the state.

BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have been making multiple trips to the state.