Karnataka Assembly Polls 2018 Results: Counting underway at Kaup, Karkala, Sringeri, Mudigere, Chickamagalur, Tarikere, Kadur, Chikkanayakana, Tiptur, Turuvekere, Kunigal, Tumkur City, Tumkur Rural, Koratagere, Gubbi

The stage is set for Karnataka Assembly Polls 2018, results of which will be declared by the end of the day.

BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP reached the halfway mark in the Karnataka Assembly Polls Results 2018 within the first three hours of counting. The party is now set to form the government, leading in more than 121 seats. The Congress, which got an early lead, could barely hold on to more than 57 seats. JDS+ also secured a lead in 42 seats. BJP candidate Yeddyurappa is leading From Shikaripura. Incumbent Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah trailed behind in Chamundeshwari and maintained a small lead in Badami seats

In this Live blog, we'll follow the election trends for these 15 constituencies: Kaup, Karkala, Sringeri, Mudigere, Chickamagalur, Tarikere, Kadur, Chikkanayakana, Tiptur, Turuvekere, Kunigal, Tumkur City, Tumkur Rural, Koratagere, Gubbi. A clear trend of Karnataka election results will start emerging by afternoon. 

The Election Commission has deployed 16,662 personnel for counting of votes amid tight security. There are three flying squads in every constituency, 154 general observers, 136 expenditure observers, 34 police observers, 10,000 micro observers, 3.2 lakh polling personnel and members of the Central police forces in all polling stations.

Over 72 per cent of the 4.94-crore strong electorate in Karnataka voted on Saturday, May 12, the highest voter turnout in the last 35 years. 

The fates of over 2,600 candidates, contesting from 222 seats out of 224-assembly constituencies,  including 216 women candidates, will be out by the end of the day. 

Elections in two constituencies in Bengaluru District, Jayanagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar, were postponed earlier. 

Siddaramaiah-led Congress, which is eyeing a second consecutive term in the state, fought in all 222 constituencies. The BJP, which is eyeing the 22nd state in its kitty, also fought from 222 constituencies. BS Yeddyurappa is BJP's chief ministerial candidate. The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) fielded candidates for 201 seats while its ally Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) contested from 21 seats. There were 1,155 Independents and about 800 candidates from national, regional and fringe parties.

15 May 2018

09:13 IST

Congress is ahead in 93 seats, while Congress is close behind in 91 seats. JDS+ is still strong in 26 seats
Election trends for Karnataka Assembly Elections: 211/222
BJP: 93
Congress: 91
JDS+: 26
Others: 1

08:40 IST

BJP gets ahead, leading in 70 seats. Congress is close behind, leading in 68 seats while JDS+ is still strong in 26 seats
Early election trends for Karnataka Assembly Elections: 165/222
BJP: 70
Congress: 68
JDS+: 26
Others: 1

08:36 IST

A neck and neck fight is on in Karnataka. BJP leads in 60 seats, Congress is ahead in 65 seats while JDS is leading in 26 seats. 
Early election trends for Karnataka Assembly Elections: 152/222
BJP: 60
Congress: 56
JDS+: 26
Others: 1

08:29 IST

"Vote counting began at 8 a.m. at 38 centres in 30 districts where 72.36 per cent of the 5.07 crore electorate polled across the state on Saturday, the Election Commission official told IANS here. Votes polled in 26 of the 28 Bengaluru`s urban and rural segments are being counted at four centres across the city. "The poll panel has deployed 16,662 personnel to count votes in each segment and declare the result after the process is completed," he added. 

08:24 IST

BJP is catching up quickly, gaining leads in 33 seats. Congress is ahead in 40 seats while JDS in 10. 

Early election trends for Karnataka Assembly Elections: 84/222
BJP: 33
COngress: 40
JDS+: 10
Others: 1

08:13 IST

Early election trends for Karnataka Assembly Elections: Congress takes an early lead in 25 seats, BJP ahead in 19 seats and JDS in 9.

Karnataka: 52/222

BJP: 19
Cong: 25
JDS+: 9
Others: 0

08:00 IST

Counting begins across 283 centres across the state. The Election Commission has deployed 16,662 personnel including three flying squads in every constituency, 154 general observers, 136 expenditure observers, 34 police observers, 10,000 micro observers, 3.2 lakh polling personnel and members of the Central police forces in all polling stations.