NEW DELHI: The Karnataka Assembly elections 2018 will be held in a single phase on May 12 with the counting of votes scheduled on May 15. The last date of filing nomination is April 24, and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is April 27. 


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Karnataka elections 2018: Complete poll schedule


Issue of notification: April 17, 2018
Last date of filing nomination: April 24, 2018
Date of scrutiny: April 25, 2018
Last date of withdrawal of candidature: April 27, 2018
Voting Date: May 12
Counting date: May 15


The Model Code of Conduct has come into effect. 


“4.96 crore voters or 72% population of Karnataka are eligible to vote,” said the Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat.


VVPAT machines, apart from EVMs, will be deployed for the polls. “The poll body has been using VVPAT machines in elections since last year,” added the poll commission.


"Since there have been some offences in the last elections, CRPF will be deployed to maintain law and order across the state. It will be monitored on a regular basis," said the CEC.


"The sealing of expenditure is Rs 28 lakh in Karnataka for political parties. The expenditure at polling booth will also be included in the expenditure of the candidates," said CEC Rawat.


Minutes before the EC declared the poll schedule, BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted, "Karnataka will vote on 12 May 2018, counting on 18 May 2018." While he got the voting date correct, information on counting date was wrong. The tweet was later deleted. 


Chaos ensued at the press conference after Malviya put out the dates of Karnataka elections on social media even before the official announcement.


Reacting to the development, CEC Rawat said, "Certain things may have leaked for which Election Commission will take appropriate action. It will be investigated. Be assured that actions legally and administratively befitting will be taken."


With Karnataka polls just 45-days away, 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 BJP, which is currently in power in 21 states, is trying to expand its saffron wing in the 22nd 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.