Karnataka assembly election results 2018 for Nippani, Chikkodi-Sadalga, Athani, Kagwad, Kudachi, Raybag, Hukkeri, Arabhavi, Gokak, Yemkanmardi, Belgaum Uttar, Belgaum Dakshin, Belgaum Rural, Khanapur, Kittur

BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party surged ahead in 111 seats in the ongoing Karnataka Assembly Election results 2018, just two seats away from the 112 majority mark. The Congress was leading in just 61 seats while JDS+ is ahead in 42 seats. The counting of votes for the keenly contested Karnataka Assembly elections 2018 has begun and initial trends/results have started pouring in on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Here the latest updates for Nippani, Chikkodi-Sadalga, Athani, Kagwad, Kudachi, Raybag, Hukkeri, Arabhavi, Gokak, Yemkanmardi, Belgaum Uttar, Belgaum Dakshin, Belgaum Rural, Khanapur and Kittur assembly constituencies.

11: 20 am:

Nippani: BJP candidate JOLLE SHASHIKALA ANNASAHEB is leading with 36568 votes, ahead of Congressman KAKASO PANDURANG PATIL

Chikkodi-Sadalga: Congress candidate GANESH PRAKASH HUKKERI leading with 27760 votes. BJP candidate ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE on second spot

Athani: Congress candidate MAHESH IRANAGOUDA KUMATHALLI ahead of BJP's LAXMAN SANGAPPA SAVADI by a small margin of votes.

Kagwad: Congress' candidate SHRIMANT BALASAHEB PATIL leading with 14454 votes. BJP's BHARAMAGOUDA ALAGOUDA KAGE gets 9663 votes.

Kudachi: Congressman AMIT SHAMA GHATAGE ahead of BJP's P.RAJEEV by small 2000+ votes

Belgaum Dakshin: BJP candidate ABHAY PATIL leading with 21253 votes. 

Belgaum Rural: Congressman LAXMI R HEBBALKAR gets 16973 votes, BJP's SANJAY B PATIL secures 12399 votes.

Belgaum Uttar: BJP candidate ANIL S BENAKE gets 48245, Congress candidate FAIROZ NURUDDIN SAITH secures 38431 votes.

Out of 225 Karnataka Assembly segments, 222 went to the polls on May 12. The election in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar seat was delayed to May 28 due to the recovery of a large number of voter ID cards. The election in Jayanagar segment was countermanded in the wake of the demise of BJP candidate BN Vijaya Kumar on May 4. The Karnataka election results 2018 are significant for the ruling Congress as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is hoping to make a comeback in this southern state. Several exit polls have earlier predicted a hung Assembly with no major political party seem to be gaining a clear majority in the state. In such a scenario, HD Deve Gowda's JD(S) is likely to emerge as a kingmaker since its support would be crucial in government formation in Karnataka.

At present, the majority mark is 112 as results will be declared for only 222 seats. While Karnataka Assembly has 225 seats, voting takes place for 224 constituencies as one is a nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community.

A total of 2,655 candidates are in the fray for the 224 seats in Karnataka Assembly. Among the candidates are four sitting and former chief ministers - the current CM Siddaramaiah, former BJP chief ministers BS Yeddyurappa and Jagdish Shettar, and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy. There are 219 women, too, among the aspirants. While the BJP is contesting in all 224 seats, the Congress put up candidates in 222 and the JDS in 201 seats.

According to the state Chief Electoral Officer Sanjeev Kumar 72.13 percent voters came out to exercise their franchise which is the highest in the Karnataka Assembly elections since the 1952 state polls.