Karnataka assembly election results 2018: BJP within sniffing distance of the halfway mark, Congress routed

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at 1:15 pm was ahead in 107 seats in the Karnataka Assembly elections 2018. The halfway mark is 112 seats as counting is taking place for 222 constituencies.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crossed the halfway mark at 1:15 pm and was ahead in 107 seats in the Karnataka Assembly elections 2018. The halfway mark is 112 seats as counting is taking place for 222 constituencies. The Congress was second with 74 seats while the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) was at the third spot with 39. Karnataka chief minister and Congress candidate Siddaramaiah won from Badami defeating his BJP rival B Sriramulu by a narrow margin but is trailing from Chamundeshwari. BJP chief ministerial BS Yeddyurappa is leading from Shikaripura.

Two constituencies - Jayanagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar - did not vote on May 12. The BJP, with an eye on winning the state back after five years, put up candidates in all the 224 seats while the Congress under the leadership of chief minister Siddaramaiah was in the fray in 222 constituencies. The Janata Dal Secular (JDS) of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda put up candidates in 201 constituencies.

The Karnataka Assembly has 225 seats but elections take place for 224 only. Since voting of May 12 took place for only 222 seats, so the halfway mark to secure majority is 112.

The voting for the elections had taken place on Saturday where 72.13 per cent of the 4.94-crore strong electorate exercised their franchise to decide the fates of 2,654 candidates, contesting for 222 seats out of 224 assembly constituencies. This was the highest recorded voter turnout in the last 35 years.