The Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged as the single largest party in the Karnataka Assembly, but has fallen short of the halfway mark to form a government.
In in a quick turn of events, the Congress announced it was willing to support the Janata Dal (Secular) in forming a government.
Election in the R.R. Nagar constituency in Bengaluru has been postponed following the seizure of over 9,000 voter ID cards. Election in Jayanagar in the city has been countermanded following the demise of BJP candidate and sitting MLA Vijay Kumar.
Here are the live updates:
The Election Commission has declared Jagadish Shettar of the BJP as the winner of the Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency. The result was stopped due to a discrepancy between EVM count and the VVPAT. The winning margin is more than 20,000 votes. With this all the results have been declared and here is the final tally.
Final Tally
| Party | Seats |
| BJP | 104 |
| INC | 78 |
| JD(S) | 37 |
| BSP | 1 |
| Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
BJP, Congress legislature party to meet on May 16
BJP that has emerged as thesingle largest party in Karnataka, where assembly polls has thrown up a hung verdict, has called a meeting of its newly-elected legislature party on Wednesday.
The meeting under the presidentship of its state unit chief B.S. Yeddyurappa is likely to elect him as the new leader of the BJP legislature party, party sources said.
The Congress legislature party is also meeting on Wednesday, party sources said.
Bot the parties staked claim to form the government in Karnataka. The governor is said to have told both delegations that he will take a decision once he receives communication from the election commission about the poll results.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets: “I thank my sisters and brothers of Karnataka for steadfastly supporting the BJP’s development agenda and making BJP the single largest party in the state. I salute the stupendous work of BJP4Karnataka Karyakartas who toiled round the clock and worked for the party.”
Unconditional support to JD(S): Siddaramaiah
Congress leader Siddaramaiah and Janada Dal (S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy speaks to journalists after meeting with Governor V. R. Vala at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.
"We have given unconditional support to the JD(S). The Congress has extended support to the JD(S) to form a government with both parties put together having MLAs more than the magic number of 111. Democracy is run on numbers; numbers are in our favour. The Governor, after obtaining the list of elected MLAs from the Election Commission of India, will take a call", " Mr. Siddaramaiah says.
H. D. Kumaraswamy's letter seeking an appointment with the Governor of Karnataka.
"The BJP is known for horse trading and they may try", Mr. Siddaramaiah alleged. "They'll not succeed. We have 116 MLAs together and have support of two independent MLAs. Legally, we are entitled to form a government, he says.
Outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy and KPCC president G. Parameshwar are seen outside the Raj Bhavan after meeting the Governor, in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Mr. Kumaraswamy says he has submitted a letter staking claim to form a government with the support of the Congress. The Governor, after receiving the letter, told him he would examine the issue after consulting experts, he adds.
State BJP chief B.S. Yeddyurappa, party leaders Eshwarappa and Shobha Karandlaje meet the Governor. After the meeting, Mr. Yeddyurappa says he has staked the claim to form a government on the ground that the BJP is the single largest party and sought time to prove majority. “It is for the Governor to decide [on giving time],” he says.
BJP leaders led by B.S. Yeddyurappa, H.N.Ananth Kumar and Muralidhar Rao submitting a letter to stake claim to form a government to Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Mr. Yeddyurappa declines to react on the Congress-JD(S) pact.
Mr. Kumaraswamy is expected to meet the Governor in a short while. JD(S) MLC Saravana is at the Raj Bhavan to seek an appointment.
BJP to stake claim
Mr. Yeddyurappa announces that he, along with Union Minister Anant Kumar, is heading to meet the Governor to stake claim to form a government. “We are the single largest party in the State. The mandate is in our favour, and against the Congress,” he says.
JD(S) accepts Congress offer, H. D. Kumaraswamy writes to Governor
Mr. Kumaraswamy writes to the Governor, seeking an appointment by evening to stake claim to form a government.
In his letter, Mr. Kumaraswamy says he has accepted the Congress’ offer extending support to form a government.
Congress attempting to subvert popular mandate: Yeddyurappa
K.V. Aditya Bhardwaj reports:
Mr. Yeddyurappa meets mediapersons at party office in Bengaluru. He is accompanied by BJP in charge for Karnataka P. Muralidhara Rao, Union Minister Mr. Ananth Kumar and Ms. Karandlaje.
Mr. Yeddyurappa says he condemns "attempts by Congress to subvert popular mandate" and the party's attempt to "try to come back to power from back door." People of Karnataka will never accept that.
"People of Karnataka have rejected the misrule of Mr. Siddaramaiah lock, stock, and barrel. People of Karnataka have voted for change. The State has responded to the call of Congress-free Karnataka by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has emerged as single largest party and anti-Congress wave have also given JD(S) considerable seats. Anti-incumbency is so strong that Mr. Siddaramaiah has himself suffered a humiliating defeat in his own constituency," he says.
Refusing to disclose what his strategy will be and the party's next course of action, he says he will discuss the next course of action with the party's national leaders and decide.
Siddaramaiah submits resignation
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meets the Governor and tenders his resignation. He is accompanied by Mr. Parameshwara.
It is learnt that Mr. Parameshwara had gone to give letter of support to the JD(S) but was turned back.
He didn't have prior appointment to meet the Governor, sources tell The Hindu .
Coastal Karnataka goes to BJP
Supporters celebrate the BJP’s win in the Karnataka Assembly elections, outside the BJP office in Malleshwaram on May 15, 2018.
The BJP has almost swept the coastal Karnataka region by winning 16 out of 19 seats.
Prominent among those defeated in the Congress include Ministers B. Ramanath Rai and Pramod Madhwaraj from Bantwal and Udupi respectively; former Minister K. Abhayachandra from Moodbidri and KSRTC Chairman K. Gopal Poojary from Byndoor.
The BJP wins all the five seats in Udupi district. The Congress won from Udupi, Kaup and Byndoor in the 2013 polls.
BJP workers celebrate their party's victory in Karnataka Assembly elections, at their headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday.
In Uttara Kannada, the BJP has won four out of six seats, while the Congress has won two, including Haliyal, represented by Minister R.V. Deshpande. Former Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, who retained the seat this time too as a BJP nominee, was the lone BJP MLA from Uttara Kannada in 2013.
The situation is a complete reverse in Dakshina Kannada where the Congress had won seven out of eight seats in 2013. This time, BJP has won seven out of eight seats, leaving Mangaluru (formerly Ullal) to Congress nominee and Minister U.T. Khader.
Independent MLA Mankala Vaidya had joined the Congress after getting elected in 2013 from Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district, while another independent MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty joined the BJP days before the polls after resigning his position in Kundapur in Udupi district. While Mr. Vaidya suffered defeat in the hands of BJP's Sunil Naik, Mr. Shetty defeats the Congress' Rakesh Malli by 56,405 votes.
The Congress has won four out of six seats in Kolar district - Srinivasapur, Malur, KGF and Bangarpet. The JD(S) has wrested the Kolar seat, while the Congress supported Independent wins the Mulbagal segment.
BJP will wait for final results: Yeddyurappa
After the reported development of the Congress and the JD(S) coming together, Mr. Yeddyurappa tells reporters in Bengaluru that the party will wait for the final results to be declared.
“The numbers are still unclear. We will wait for results of all seats. We will consult the central leadership to decide the future course of action." He, however, refuses to react when asked about the Congress announcing its decision to support the JD(S) to form a government.
Union Ministers J.P. Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan and Prakash Javadekar are heading to Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Siddaramaiah to meet Governor
Mr. Siddaramaiah will meet the Governor at 4 p.m. to tender his resignation.
The Congress has decided to extend unconditional support to the JD(S) to form a government.
Ghulam Nabi Azad tells mediapersons that the JD(S) has accepted the Congress's offer.
Meanwhile, Minister and Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar meets independent winner H. Nagesh, seeking his support. Mr. Shivakumar rushes from Bengaluru directly to the counting centre in Kolar to meet Mr. Nagesh, who beat 38 candidates to win from the Mulbagal constituency.
Congress's winning candidate Roopakala from the KGF also meets Mr. Shivakumar.
"We will not allow the BJP to form a government," says Mr Shivakumar. Secular forces will form the next government, he added.
Big win for Shivakumar
D.K. Shivakumar
Mr. Shivakumar has the biggest lead in the 2018 Assembly Elections, with 1,20,492 votes in the Kanakapura constituency. He has a 70,286 vote-lead, and the JD(S)’ Narayana Gowda is at a distant second with 45,795 votes at 1.30 p.m.
The Minister was on May 7, 2018 booked for attending a party, an act that the Election Commission of India said was a violation of the code of conduct.
Halady Srinivas Shetty of the BJP has the second biggest margin, with a lead of 53,673 in the Kundapura constituency. Rakesh Malli of the Congress is in the second place.
C.N. Balakrishna of the JD(S) has a lead of 53,012 votes against C.S. Puttegowda of the Congress in Shravanabelagola.
Congress loses people's mandate for a second term
Supporters gather near JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s house in Bengaluru on May 15, 2018.
While it is clear that the Congress has lost people's mandate for a second term, it has now said the party is willing to support the JD(S) in case the latter wishes to form a government.
Sources in the Congress say the move is to disallow BJP from forming a government. "The Congress will write to the Governor expressing unconditional support to the JD(S)," say sources.
The JD(S), is however, yet to make clear its stand.
KPJP opens account
Just two constituencies have thrown different results amid the three-way split between the BJP, Congress and the JD(S).
The Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janata Paksha (KPJP) wins in Ranibennur. R. Shankar wins the seat, with 63,910 votes against the Congress's Krishnappa Koliwad. Floated by Puthurina Muthu D. Mahesh Gowda, the KPJP gained prominence after the party was taken over by Kannada actor Upendra. However, Upendra quit the party in the run-up to the polls over differences with Mr. Gowda.
Yeddyurappa bags Shikaripur
Mr. Yeddyurappa wins from Shikaripur by a margin of 35,397 votes. He bagged 86,983 votes, while his nearest rival G.H. Malathesh of the Congress manages to get 51,586 votes. H.T. Baligar, JD(S) nominee secures 13,191 votes.
Mr. Yeddyurappa is entering the Assembly from Shikaripur segment for eighth time.
Speaking to reports, B.Y. Raghavendra, his son and Shikaripur MLA. says the infrastructure upgradation works initiated by his father in Shikaripur during his tenure as Chief Minister is responsible for the victory.
Congress wins Chikkmagaluru
Our Special Correspondent reports:
T.D. Raje Gowda of the Congress wins the Sringeri seat against former minister and BJP district president D.N. Jeevaraj by a margin of 1,989 votes.
Mr. Gowda had given a tough fight to Mr. Jeevaraj, a three-time MLA. Ahead of the elections, four supporters of Mr. Gowda were raided by income tax sleuths.
Except Sringeri, in all four constituencies of the district, the BJP is leading. C.T. Ravi of Chikkamagaluru, Belli Prakash of Kadur, Suresh of Tarikere and M.P. Kumaraswamy of Mudigere are leading.
More wins
In Sandur, Congress candidate E. Tukaram won by a margin of 6,552 votes.
In Shiggaon, Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP defeated the Congress candidate by 9265 votes. In Shimoga Rural too, BJP's K.B. Ashok Naik won by a margin of 3,777.
In Shirahatti, BJP's Ramappa Sobeppa Lamani won by a whopping 29,993 votes margin over the Congress candidate.
In Moodabidri, BJP's Umanatha A. Kotian won by a huge margin of 29799 votes.
In Virajpet and Sedam, K.G. Bopaiah and Rajkumar Patil - both from the BJP - won by 13353 and 7200 votes respectively over their Congress counterparts
In Kanakagiri, BJP's Basavaraj Dadesugur won by 14225 votes.
In Jagalur, BJP's S.V. Ramachandra won by 29221 while in Hangal C.M. Udasi won by 6514 votes.
First win for Congress
Minister U.T. Khader of Mangaluru constituency.
U.T. Abdul Khader defeats BJP's Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyaru to retain Mangaluru.
It's a mixed feelings for Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader. "There is no polarisation in votes in my constituency where, I have secured a lead that is what I got in 2013. But I am unhappy over our party's performance. I am perplexed as to how voters ignored our government's development programmes. We need to look thread bare of the results and change our strategy," he told reporters.
Siddaramaiah's house wears a deserted look
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence in Mysuru wears a deserted look on Tuesday.
Krishna Kumar reports from Mysuru
The residence of Mr. Siddaramaiah at Sharadadevi Nagar in Mysuru wore a deserted look as the results started tickling in.
The area used to be a beehive of activity even in the absence of Mr.Siddaramaiah, with party workers and activists hanging around. But that was not the case on Tuesday.
There were a few personal attendants who had kept the doors and windows shut and there were no signs of any other activity.
The police security was conspicuous by absence and the barricades blocking the entry to the street where the house is located, was open.
BJP makes inroads in Hassan
G.T. Sathish reports:
The BJP is all set to open its account in Hassan, a district considered to be the strong bastion of the JD(S).
Preetham Gowda contesting in Hassan and Narve Somashekhar in Sakaleshpur are surging ahead of their nearest JD(S) rivals. In the 2013 elections, the BJP did not won even one seat in the district.
The Congress is trailing in Belur and Arakalagud, which it won last year. A. Manju, Minister for Sericulture, is trailing.
A.T.Ramaswamy of the JD(S) is leading in the Arakalgud constituency. JD(S) candidates H.D.Revanna, C.N. Balakrishna and K.M. Shivalinge Gowda are leading with a huge margin from their nearest rivals in the Holenarasipur, Shravanabelgola and Arasikere constituencies.
Jubliant mood in BJP office
K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj reports:
It is the mood of festivities in front of BJP’s office in Malleswaram, Bengaluru.
Over a thousand BJP workers are celebrating by smearing saffron holi colours and applying saffron tilaks to even passersby.
Many workers waving huge saffron flags were seen dancing to the beats of drums. Many BJP winning candidates were coming to the party office along with their supporters and joining in the celebrations.
However, everyone is waiting for Mr. Yeddyurappa to arrive. He is expected to reach the party office only by late afternoon.
Many Ministers face defeat
While 13 minsters are leading, 15 are trailing even as Mr Siddaramaiah is set to lose Chamundeshwari and is fight a neck and neck race in Badami.
H. Anjaneya, Vinay Kulkarni, Santosh Lad, A. Manju, Pramod Madhwaraj, Umashree, and Abhaychandra Jain are all trailing.
The first results are out
Mudigere and Sullia go to BJP
BJP's Angara defeated Congress's B. Raghu by 26,00 votes in Sulia. In Mudigere, party candidate Kumaraswamy wins by a margin 12,512 votes over his Congress rival Motamma.
The victory from the Sullia Assembly constituency for the sixth time affirms the faith of voters in the development programmes taken up by me, says Angara.
Dakshina Kannada swings the BJP way
Anil Kumar Shastri reports
It appears a reverse swing this time with Congress leading in only one constituency (Mangaluru-Ullal) out of eight segments while it had captured seven out of 8 in 2013
In Mangaluru (Ullal), Minister U.T. Khader leads by 19739 votes, while BJP's Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyaru trails.
District in charge Minister B.Ramanath Rai, Mangaluru City South MLA J.R. Lobo, Mangaluru City North MLA Mohiuddin Bawa B A enter the counting centre to file complaint suspecting the EVM machines as they are trailing in Bantwal, Mangaluru City South and Mangaluru City North Assembly constituencies.
In Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada, BJP's Umanath Kotian leads by 29,653 votes against Congress' K. Abhayachandra, former Minister
Vote share
A look at the vote share major parties have polled in the current elections shows Congress has registered more votes than BJP, but has failed to translate them as wins.
The JD(S) with 17.4% vote share has fared well by leading in 39 seats.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trailing against G.T.Devegowda of the Janata Dal (Secular) by a huge margin even as the counting is underway. Mr. Devegowda, had polled 61,351 votes against 37,279 votes polled by Mr.Siddaramaiah in what was expected to be stiff fight but the trends indicate that the JD (S) is ahead by a huge margin which Congress activists say is unassailable.
At Badami, it is turning out to be a neck and neck fight where Mr. Siddaramaiah has polled 48,845 votes against his nearest rival B. Sreeramulu of the BJP who has polled 46.119 votes as at 11.47 p.m.
Mamata congratulates winners
"Congratulations to the winners of the Karnataka elections. For those who lost, fight back. If Congress had gone into an alliance with the JD(S), the result would have been different. Very different," wrote West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Twitter.
Mandate against the divisive politics of Congress: Karandlaje
K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj reports:
BJP's chief minsterial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa's house in Dollars Colony is beaming with party workers and supporters.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who is yet to make a public appearance, is said to be meeting with his close supporters and workers reaching his house from across the region.
Sources said that he is still closely monitoring the results and discussions have already begun on his swearing-in and possible makeup of his Cabinet.
Mr. Yeddyurappa's close aide and MP Shobha Karandlaje told reporters that the mandate was clearly against the divisive politics of Congress and the arrogance of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. "With this, we have achieved Congress-Mukt Bharat," she said.
JD(S) set to sweep Mandya
Hundreds of JD(S) workers gather outside a counting centre in Mandya as the party sweeps the region.
M.T. Shivakumar reports:
JD(S) candidates are leading in all seven Assembly constituencies in Mandya.
According to the latest trends, Mandya MP C.S Puttaraju has secured 16,369 votes at 11 a.m. His nearest rival Darshan Puttannaiah of Swaraj India had secured 9,786 votes.
JD(S) candidate K.C. Narayana Gowd has secured 14,218 in K.R Pet. Congress candidate K.B. Chandrashekar has secured 10,745 votes so far.
D.C. Thammanna is leading with 17,097 in Maddur, K. Sureshgowda has secured 30,848 votes in in Nagamangala.
M. Srinivas got 37,394 in in Mandya, Ravindra Srikantaiah has secured 20,657 in Srirangapatna and in Malavalli, K. Annadani of JD-S has secured 15,950 votes.
JD(S) leading in all three in Bengaluru (Rural)
Afshan Yasmeen reports:
Of the four constituencies in Bengaluru (Rural) district, the Janata Dal (S) is leading in three constituencies - Nelamangala, Doddaballapura and Devanahalli. Hundreds of JD(S) party workers have gathered outside. Though none, including media personnel, have been allowed inside the centre, the mood is upbeat.
In Hosakote constituency, Sharath Bachegowda, son of former minister Bachegowda, is leading.
In the midst of the jubilant crowd, the Zilla Panchayat president from the JD(S) H. Appaianna tripped and fell, injuring himself. An ambulance was called to the spot and he was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Winners and losers in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet
The performance of Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet in these elections is also a mixed bag. Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy is leading in the BTM Layout constituency by 8,715 votes. In 2013, Mr. Reddy won for the sixth time by a massive margin of 49,048 votes.
During campaign season, Mr. Reddy had said, “There is no one issue in the city. People look for accessibility and how the MLA has responded. In slums and lower-income houses, they look at how the MLA has helped in housing and basic amenities while for those in the apartments, developing parks, playgrounds and maintaining streets become important.”
Forest Minister Ramanath Rai is trailing in Bantwal behind the BJP’s U. Rajesh Naik. Mr. Rai was also the Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada. He was booked by the Election Commission for violating the model code of conduct.
‘Chamrajnagar jinx'
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meets farmers during a visit to Chamarajanagar on October 10, 2013.
Do you know about the ‘Chamrajnagar jinx’? The popular myth in the State is that any Chief Minister who visits Chamrajnagar woudn't complete his term. Siddaramaiah, a self-confessed agnostic, broke the myth by visiting the town nine times since he assumed office.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit the town during his recent trip to the district.
Former Minister P.T. Parmeshwar Naik of the Congress is leading by 11,595 votes against independent candidate Odu Gangappa in Hadagali Ballari district after ninth round of counting.
In Bangalore Rural, except for Hoskote, the JD(S) is leading in the remaining three conatiteuncies. The mood is upbeat among JD(S) workers who have gathered at the counting centre in RC college.
Congress' U.T. Khader leads in Mangaluru by 18,426 votes at the end of 9 out of 15 rounds
Amrut Desai of BJP is leading in Dharwad constituency against Vinay Kulkarni of the Congress by 7,185 votes.
Mixed trends in Bengaluru
Large number of BJP supporters assemble in front of a big display screen at Freedom park, outside Maharani's College counting station, in Bengaluru.
In Bengaluru, the trends are mixed. At little more than 12% of the total seats in the Assembly and a sixth of the voters in Karnataka, the dense metropolis of Bengaluru has remained in the driver’s seat during electoral battles.
Six out of 13 Congress MLAs elected from the city in the outgoing Assembly were made ministers at some point of time, apart from a city-based MLC. The previous BJP government had the same number of city MLAs and one MLC as ministers.
Malleswaram sees a BJP lead with the party candidate C.N. Ashwath Narayan scoring 13,712 votes. Mr. Narayan is also the incumbent MLA.
Pulakeshinagar has the Congress in the lead as Akhanda Sreenivasamurthy, also the incumbent, has a margin of 5,981 votes. In 2013, Mr. Sreenivasamurthy won the seat as a JD(S) candidate.
S. Raghu of the BJP, another incumbent, leads in C.V. Raman Nagar with 9,824 votes to his name until now.
Eshwarappa leads in Shivamogga
In Shivamogga constituency, former Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly K.S. Eshwarappa is leading with a margin of 11,425 votes. In 2013, Mr. Eshwarappa had lost to K.B. Prasannakumar of the Congress with a very slim margin of just 278 votes.
The selection of candidate for Shivamogga city had become a tricky issue for the BJP leadership. A delegation of followers of Rudre Gowda, the party’s district unit president, met Mr. Yeddyurappa recently and requested that the party leadership provide an opportunity to their leader. A few leaders even said that if Mr. Eshwarappa was offered ticket, the party would be defeated.
'Siddaramaiah's "arrogant statements" will lead to his loss'
JD(S) MLC Saravana addresses the media in front of H.D.Deve Gowda's residence.
Sharath S. Srivatsa reports:
Janata Dal (S) MLC Saravana, who was among the first leaders to visit party supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at his residence on Tuesday morning, told reporters that chief minister Siddaramaiah's "arrogant statements" against his "guru and mentor" was the reason why he (Siddaramaiah) was trailing in the constituencies where he is contesting.
JD(S) MLC Ramesh Babu said that the party was expecting around 50 seats.
"As per the current trends, it may be a hung assembly. Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy, in consultation with the party's core committee, will discuss the future course of action. We have communicated to all our candidates to come to Bengaluru immediately. We want to see good governance," he said and added that so far, no leaders from other parties had approached the JD(S).
JD(S) leaders are a little disappointed about the party’s performance. They said they were expecting to win 60 seats. They said that while the party’s performance in Tumakuru was disappointing, the party candidates have done well in the Old Mysuru region. The party has also improved its performance in Hyderabad Karnataka.
Yadgir goes BJP way
In Hyderabad Karnataka, Yadgir constituency has the BJP in the lead with a margin of 4,416 votes. Incidentally, Yadgir is a stronghold of the Ligayat Reddy community and has not had a candidate from a backward community since 1978.
The Lingayat Reddy community has produced many prominent leaders like former Minister Vishwanath Reddy Mudnal, who was in the Cabinet of then Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Sadashivareddy Kandkur, a close follower of former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda, and A.B. Malakareddy, a professor by procession.
Now though, Vishwanath Reddy Mudnal’s son Venkatreddy Mudnal is leading in this constituency.
Yeddyurappa leads in Shikaripura
Former Chief Minister and BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa is leading in Shikaripura constituency with 9,816 votes so far. In an interview with The Hindu , Mr. Yeddyurappa said that the current state government had mismanaged government schemes and administration.
He also claimed that the rice offered under the Anna Bhagya scheme has been diverted to the black market. Mr. Yeddyurappa said, “Officials have lost confidence in this dispensation and have been approaching me with complaints. We will inquire into all these issues if voted to power.”
“The failures of the Siddaramaiah government on all key fronts, especially failure to provide drinking water and complete irrigation projects, and a series of scams are our advantages,” he added.
Badami swings both ways
In a twist, BJP's B Sreeramulu is now leading in Badami by over 300 votes. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chose this constituency as his second seat to run elections.
The swing of votes appear to changing between the Congress and BJP at the end of every round here.
However, Dr. Yathindra, Mr. Siddaramaiah's son is leading in Varuna.
The curious case of Yogeshwar in Channapatna
C.P. Yogeshwar. File
In Channapatna, former Chief Minister and JD(S) State chief H.D. Kumaraswamy is leading by 1,170 votes over C.P. Yogeshwar of the BJP.
In 2013, Mr. Yogeshwar won the seat as an SP candidate 6,464 votes.
Mr. Yogeshwar remained remained the undisputed winner from Channapatna by changing parties every election.
He first entered politics in 1999 and won as an Independent. He then joined the Congress and contested successfully in 2004 and 2008. He quit the Congress in 2009 and contested the by-elections from Channapatna on a BJP ticket. Though he lost, he contested another by-election in 2011 successfully and went on to become a BJP minister. But in 2013, he quit the BJP and joined the Samajwadi Party. But soon, he severed links with the SP and returned to the Congress. Just ahead of the 2018 polls, he rejoined the BJP to contest against Mr. Kumaraswamy.
As the trends show, Mr. Yogeshwar’s dream run may not continue.
Supporters throng counting centres
A large number of supporters waiting outside the counting centre in Mysuru.
Shankar Bennur reports from Mysuru
The area around the counting centre at Maharani's College in Mysuru is surrounded by the supporters of Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
Police have cordoned the area preventing people from coming closer to the centre.
Some JD(S) workers are already raising slogans with the candidate G.T. Deve Gowda leading against Mr. Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari.
Suchith reports from Bengaluru
Hundreds of supporters from various parties gathered at Freedom Park, located opposite to Maharani's college. Counting is on for Yeshwanthpur, Dasarahalli, Bengaluru South and Anekal constituencies in the college premises.
People were seen watching live results displayed on giant screen.
Anil Kumar Shastri reports from Mangaluru
The mood around the counting centre in Mangaluru is upbeat where counting of votes for 8 assembly segments is being held.
Workers if BJP and Congress gave catered in large numbers on the stretch of Airport Road abutting the centre, where traffic is diverted on alternative routes.
As if now, BJP candidates are leading in six out of eight segments. Congress Minister B Ramanath Rai is trailing against BJP's Rajesh Naik un Bantwal while another minister UT Khader is leading in Mangaluru.
Badami gives Siddaramaiah some respite
Though the Chief Minister is trailing in Chamundeshwari, he is leading in Badami constituency with a margin of 1,277 votes, against the BJP’s B. Sreeramulu.
Badami, a historically significant town which was once the capital of Chalukyas, has for the first time turned into a key constituency that has attracted more attention than probably any other constituency this election.
The second constituency from where Mr. Siddaramaiah is contesting, amid reported opposition from his own party leaders, Badami has turned into a platform for a high-voltage contest after the BJP fielded former Minister and leader of the Valmiki community Mr. Sreeramulu. He is a close aide of the controversial mining baron G. Janardhan Reddy, who has been actively campaigning for his friend.
JD(S) springs a surprise
In Tumakuru city, the JD(S)’ N. Govindaraju leads with 3,794 votes.
The BJP is fighting a close race with its candidate G.B. Jyothi Ganesh who has 2,478 votes as of now.
While campaigning in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a rally in Tumakuru that if the BJP comes to power, they will link the Hemavathi and Nethravathi rivers, and supply water to eight districts in the region.
In Srirangapatna, JD(S) candidate Ravindra Srikantaiah is leading by 2500 votes.
H.D. Revanna is leading by 4529 votes in Holenarsipur after two rounds.
Ashwin Kumar(T.Narsipura), KM Shivalinge Gowda (Arasikere), and Somanagouda Managuli (Basavanabagewadi) are leading.
Mixed bag for Congress
Priyank Kharge, son of Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge, is leading in Chittapur by 469 votes.
In Chamundeshwari seat, Mr. Siddaramaiah continues to trail. At 9.30 a.m. he was trailing by 5,565 votes against JD(S) candidate G.T. Deve Gowda, who won by a margin of 7,103 votes in 2013.
Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa is trailing behind H. Halappa of BJP in Sagar segment.
Congress candidates P.T. Parmeshwar Nail (Hadagali), and E. Tukaram (Sandur) are leading.
JD(S) leads in Madikeri
B.A. Jivijaya of the JD(S) is leading in Madikeri with 4,197 votes, and the BJP’s Appachu Rajan is in second place with 2,377 votes so far.
In stark contrast to developments related to Cauvery in the downstream attracting huge political interest, serious ecological problems threatening water yield at the river’s very origin in Kodagu district is seeing complete political apathy even at the time of the Assembly polls.
None of the leaders from all the three major political parties have made even a passing reference to the issue during his campaign in this coffee-growing district.
Kumaraswamy visits Adichunchanagiri Math
JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy at Adichunchanagiri Math.
JD(S) State president and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who returned from Singapore, visited the Adichunchanagiri Math early on Tuesday.
Accompanied by his wife and former MLA Anitha, Mr. Kumaraswamy offered a special puja to the deity in the math. He is expected to return to his residence in J.P. Nagar shortly.
Mr. Kumaraswamy is contesting from two constituencies - Ramanagara and Channapatna.
Siddaramaiah trailing in Chamundeshwari
Rewind: Siddaramaiah after he was sworn in as Chief Minister at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on May 13, 2013. File Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
Incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trailing in Chamundeshwari constituency against the Janata Dal (Secular)’s G.T. Deve Gowda by 3,425 votes.
The constituency had been Mr. Siddaramaiah’s home turf ever since he contested an Assembly seat for the first time in 1983 till the delimitation exercise redrew its boundaries and created the Varuna constituency out of it in 2008.
His village, Siddaramanahundi, around 20 km from Mysuru city, was part of the pre-delimited Chamundeshwari from where he won five of the seven Assembly elections he contested.
The constituency saw a voter turnout of 76.05%. Out of the total electorate of 2,95,815 voters, as many as 2,24,968 voters, including 1,14,785 men, 1,10,182 women and one ‘Other’ (sexual minorities) had taken part in the polling process.
BJP takes early lead
The BJP has taken an early lead in Karnataka, according to the leads available on the Election Commission of India website.
In Chamundeshwari seat, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trailing by about 3,000 votes. G.T. Deve Gowda is ahead of Siddaramaiah.
In Ramanagara, JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy is leading by 1,000 votes, according to official trends.
Initial trends
Counting of postal votes in progress at Maharani’s college in Mysuru on May 15, 2018.
In what appears a neck-and-neck contest, the BJP has taken an early lead in 10 seats, followed by Congress in 6 and JD(S) in 4.
Postal ballot counting at Gandhinagar has just been completed. Congress candidate Dinesh Gundu Rao is leading with 57 votes, followed by V. Narayanaswamy of JD(S) who has bagged 37 votes.
By the end of first round of counting in Tirthahalli segment, Araga Jnanendra of BJP is leading by a margin of 756 votes over Kimmane Rathnakar of Congress.
In Haveri, sitting Congress MLA Rudrappa Lamani is trailing behind BJP's Neharu Olekar by 3445 votes.
Umanatha A. Kotian of BJP is leading in Moodabidri. His Congress rival K. Abhayachandra is trailing by over 9000 votes. Abhayachandra had won the 2013 election with a margin of 4550 votes.
It's a battle between classmates in Udupi
Pramod Madhwaraj, Congress candidate for Udupi Assembly Constituency, seeking the blessings of Saraswati Bai, mother of BJP candidate for Udupi Assembly Constituency, K. Raghupati Bhat, at the Old Zilla Panchayat building in Udupi on Monday.
Ganesh Prabhu reports:
K. Raghupati Bhat, BJP candidate for Udupi Assembly Constituency, who arrived at at T.A. Pai English Medium School, the counting centre, said his party will win all five Assembly seats in Udupi district, and seven out of eight Assembly constituencies barring Ullal in neighbouring Dakshina Kannada district.
"However, we will have to see what the voters have said in the EVMs," he said.
In Udupi, Mr. Bhat is pitted against the Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, Pramod Madhwaraj. Mr. Bhat and Mr. Madhwaraj were classmates from Class VI to Class X.
Counting begins
Strong room opens: A scene at Maharani College in Mysuru.
Counting of votes have begun at all 38 counting centres across the state, amid high security.
A quick run through the counting process.
The counting of votes will begin at 8:00 am simultaneously across all centres. The postal ballots will be counted first. There would be at least 10 rounds of counting and the results would be announced at the end of each round. Candidates and their booth agents are allowed inside the counting centres.
G.T. Sathish reports from Hassan: Counting staff have reached the counting centre in Hassan. The strong room, where EVMs have been kept. Candidates K.M.Shivalinge Gowda of JD(S) (Arasikere), Manje Gowda of Congress ( Holenarasipur) have reached the centre too.
Officers opening strong room of Shravanabelgola Assembly constituency in Hassan.
Ganesh Prabhu reports from Udupi: The Congress and BJP candidates for Kaup Assembly Constituency arrived at T. A. Pai English Medium School as early as 7:20 am.
Kaup is a marginal constituency where victory margins are small. In fact, the sitting Congress Vinay Kumar Sorake won the seat with a margin of 1,855 votes in 2013 State Assembly elections.
Vishwa Kundapura reports from Kolar: As many as 21 counting tables will be used for counting the votes of Mulbagal Assembly constituency where 39 candidates were in the fray, the highest in the State.
The counting of votes registered in EVMs for all the six Assembly segments in the district will take place at Government First Grade College
Leaders arrive at Bengaluru
JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy with actor and Congress leader Ambareesh in Bengaluru on Sunday. Handout E Mail
It appears that the Congress doesn't want to take any chances in Karnataka. It has sent its top guns to avoid a repeat of the Goa, Manipur or Meghalaya fiascos in the past, where it failed to form government despite emerging as the largest party.
The party has sent senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot to the southern state, according to PTI. The duo have met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other party leaders. The sources say that the Congress is in touch with the JD(S) leadership too.
The JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who made a quick visit to Singapore, too has returned to the State Capital. While the reason for his visit is not known, speculations are rife it could do with a possible post-poll alliance.
Key issues in play
Battle lines were drawn in Karnataka much before the Election Commission announced the poll dates. National leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah frequented the State several times.
For the people of Karnataka, though, it was these five issues that had a significant role in choosing their ruler.
Candidates, parties on tenterhooks
Security personnel keep vigil at a counting centre in Bondel in Mangaluru on Monday.
In case the Congress makes a comeback, the 133-year-old party will break the jinx of no political party retaining power in the State since 1985, when the erstwhile Janata Party formed the government under Ramakrishna Hegde for a second consecutive term.
A victory for the BJP will re-establish the so-called charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and well-crafted strategy of party president Amit Shah to bring the party to power, despite the ‘tainted’ tag of its Chief Minister candidate and the Reddy brothers.
In the event of a fractured mandate as predicted by several pollsters, the JD(S) led by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda would play the role of kingmaker. The polls will decide the future of Mr. Siddaramaiah, Mr. Yeddyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy in significant ways.
Who will win Karnataka?
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (left) and BJP Chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa show their inked fingers on May 12, 2018. Photos: PTI, Twitter/@BSYBJP
The answer to this question is expected to be known by noon, according to reports.
The chief ministerial candidates — Siddaramaiah, B.S. Yeddyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy — are all back in Bengaluru.
The counting of votes will begin at 8 a.m., at 38 counting centres across the State. While most results will be out by noon, the leads will be available much earlier.
