Karnataka Assembly elections results: 'Congress-JD(S) combine will strive for a better future'

With a hung assembly despite Bharatiya Janata Party's super show in the 2018 Karnataka elections, Congress on Tuesday extended its support to Janata Dal (Secular) in the "interest of a better Karnataka". BJP won 105 seats but needed 8 more seats to hit the majority mark of 113.

Congress finished with 76 and JD(S) secured 39 seats. "We hope the Governor will acknowledge our combined strength and call us to prove our majority. @INCKarnataka #KarnatakaElections2018," Congress tweeted on Tuesday.

As BJP emerged as the largest party, Karnataka governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala also invited it to form the government. Vala has given the saffron party a week's time to form the government.

Talking to media after meeting Vala, BJP's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa said, "Just now we met governor because we are the single largest party and that he allows us to prove majority in the Assembly".

Before meeting the governor, Yeddyurappa had claimed, "BJP will 100 percent form government in Karnataka". Union minister Ananth Kumar, BJP MP Rajeev Chandra Shekhar and Shobha Karandlaje also accompanied Yeddyurappa.

A government in Karnataka led by BJP will help PM Narendra Modi silence critics who said his popularity had waned after the rocky adoption of Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the demonetization move in November 2016. If it forms a government in Karnataka, BJP and its allies would govern 22 of India's 29 states.

Here's what happened in the day:

• After meeting with the Governor, Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and G Parmeshwara said that the former has decided to extend unconditional support to JD(S) to form the government in Karnataka. Kumaraswamy said that they have given a letter to the governor, requesting him to allow them to form the government.
• BJP Parliamentary Board to meet at party headquarters in New Delhi at 7 pm.
• JD(S) legislative party meeting called at 6.15 pm.
• The results of 26 seats are still awaited.
• Of the 196 seats, the results for which have been announced, BJP has won 91, while Congress has won 68.
• A Congress delegation has arrived at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.

• With 30 minutes left for counting to end, BJP has won in 88 seats, while Congress has won in 66. The saffron party not only needs to win 16 constituencies where it is currently leading but also needs to gain victory in 8 more seats to emerge victorious in the elections.
• BS Yeddyurappa, Ananth Kumar, Shobha Karandlaje and Rajeev Chandrasekhar have entered Raj Bhavan. "Just now we met Governor because we are the single largest party and that he allows us to prove majority in the Assembly," BJP's CM candidate said.
• Though BJP has won 87 seats and is leading in only 17, Yeddyurappa is confident that the saffron party will win the Karnataka Assembly elections. "100 percent we will form the government," ANI quoted him as saying.

• BS Yeddyurappa to meet Karnataka governor at 5 pm. "We should be forming the govt as we are the single largest party," ANI quoted Yeddyurappa as saying.

• HD Kumaraswamy has sought appointment from the Governor of Karnataka between 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm in an official letter.

• The polling trends as of 4:43 pm

• Yeddyurappa, the BJP's CM face, also said that Congress is trying to come to power through back door.
• BS Yeddyurappa has said that the residents of Karnataka want to get rid of Congress.
  "The people have rejected the Congress and accepted BJP. People are moving towards Congress mukt Karnataka. Despite being rejected Congress is trying to grab power," Yeddyurappa said, reported ANI.

• Siddaramaiah submits his resignation to the Governor of Karnataka
• Danish Ali of JD(S) has said that his party is trying best to keep BJP at bay.
  "JD(S) had always maintained that HD Kumaraswamy will be CM. As per results, we're doing everything to keep BJP out of power. Congress has extended its support, we have accepted it. We will jointly go to meet Governor after 5.30 pm today," ANI quoted Ali as saying.
• Here's the latest status known for 222 constituencies as per the EC website:

• KC Venugopal of Congress has said that the JD(S) too shall be meeting the governor along with them.
• JD(S) has accepted Congress' offer to form coalition government.
  "We had a telephonic conversation with Deve Gowda ji & Kumaraswamy. They have accepted our offer. Hopefully, we will be together," ANI quoted Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress as saying.

• Siddaramaiah to meet the Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala at 4 pm Tuesday to submit his resignation as the chief minister.
• BJP, Congress, JD(S), Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party and other Independent parties have won 48, 24, 5 and 1 constituency respectively.
• Here's the latest status:

• Congress approaches JD(S) for coalition and offers the CM's post.
• With BJP loosing lead in several seats, there are chances of a hung assembly.
• Congress is leading in 68 constituencies and has won 7.
• The saffron party has won in 28 constituencies and is leading in 78.
  
• BJP wins 24 constituencies, while Congress has won 4 seats till now.
• Here's the latest status known for 181 constituencies as per the EC website:
  

  
• Janata Dal (Secular) and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party have won in 1 seat each.
• BJP has won 3 more seats and Congress has captured one more.
• Modi's party has won in 14 constituencies while Congress has won in 2.
• BJP's CM face Yeddyurappa leads by 30,000 votes in Shikaripura.
• Siddaramaiah wins in Badami constituency.
• BJP wins in 2 constituencies in Karnataka Assembly elections.

• Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Nirmala Sitharaman celebrate at party headquarters in Delhi.

• BJP continues to lead in 115 constituencies.

• Here are the results for the top constituencies of Karnataka
  Badami

Shikaripura

Ramanagara

Kanakpura

Chamundeshwari

• Even BJP's Karnataka in-charge Prakash Javadekar has congratualated the saffron party.
• "People of Karnataka want good governance, that is why they have chosen BJP. This is a big victory for the party. Congress is losing state after state & we are winning state after state," ANI quoted Javadekar as saying.

• Here's the latest status of Karnataka's election result.

• Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje has applauded Narendra Modi and Amit Shah's efforts for campaigning hard in Karnataka, which has led to BJP's victory.
  "History in the making as BJP emerges as the largest party in #Karnataka Assembly. Congratulate our inspiring leaders PM Shri @narendramodi and Shri @AmitShah ji who worked tirelessly to turn the tide. Karnataka has spoken! #KarnatakaElections2018," Raje tweeted.

• DK Shivkumar of Congress has said that his party president Rahul Gandhi did his best to retain its power in the state.
  "Rahul Gandhi did his best, but it is we who have lost the elections. We, the local leadership, should have en-cashed it in a proper way and because of which we lost it," ANI quoted Shivkumar as saying.

• With BJP set to form government in Karnataka, saffron party workers are celebrating outside party office in Delhi. 

• As of 11:17 am, here's the latest status known for 210 constituencies as per the EC website.

• GT Devegowda, who is leading over Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari by 17000 votes, has said that the CM's attitude resulted in his loss.

• After BJP started leading in more than half of the constituencies, the CM of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh, thanked the residents of Karnataka for voting for the saffron party.
  "This is a historic win for BJP. I want to thank all the people of Karnataka for voting for us. Ab desh mein Congress khojo abhiyan chalega, kahaan rahegi pata nahi," ANI quoted Singh as saying.

• As of 10:47 am, BJP is leading in 115 constituencies, Congress is leading in 64 and JD(S) is leading in 40.
• BJP leading in 112 of the 222 seats in the Katnataka Assembly elections.
• Bahujan Samaj Party has lost lead in one constituency.
• CM Siddaramaiah is trailing from Chamundeshwari by over 12,000 votes as JD(S) leader GT Deve Gowda is leading there. However, Siddaramaiah is still leading in Badami by over 160 votes.
• Out of 222 constituencies, BJP is leading in 107 seats, Congress is leading in 69, while JD(S) is leading in 45. 
• Counting of votes is underway in all 222 constituencies.
• The saffron party workers are celebrating outside party office in Bengaluru as trends show the party leading, reported ANI.

• BJP seems confident of its victory in the Karnataka Assembly Elections.

• Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that he will discuss the possibility of an alliance with JD(S) with Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot.
• BJP leader Umanatha A Kotian has won in Moodabidri constituency, reported Suvarna News.
• As of 9:45 am BJP leads in 103, Congress in 66 and JD(S) is leading in 43 constituencies.
• According to the EC's website, Bahujan Samaj Party, Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party and other independent parties have taken lead in 1 seat each.
• BJP takes lead in 100 constituencies, says News 9.
• Here are the official trends from Karnataka from the EC.

• Modi's party is still leading in 98 seats as of 9:32 am.
• Counting is yet to begin in 29 constituencies.
• The saffron party has lost lead in 2 seats. Congress is leading in 62 seats and JD(S) is leading in 34
• BJP, which currently rules 22 states in India, is leading in 97 constituencies in Karnataka.
• CM Siddaramaiah has lost lead in Chamundeshwari in Mysuru.
• The saffron party, Congress and JD(S) is leading in 90, 56 and 30 seats respectively.
• Counting is yet to begin in 51 seats.
• BJP leads in Lingayat dominated regions, said Business Standard.
• Early trends reflect exit poll's prediction as BJP leads in 82 seats, reports News 9.
• Other parties are leading in 1 seat.
• BJP takes lead in 76 constituencies.
• JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy leading over the Congress candidate by 1552 votes in Ramanagara.

• Here's the partywise vote share.

• As of 9 am, counting is in progress in 128 seats. BJP, Congress and JD(S) is leading in 61, 48, 19 constituencies respectively, reported News 9.
• Modi's party is leading in 51 constituencies.
• Visuals from counting centers in Karnataka.

• Counting of votes is under progress in 106 seats.
• BJP and Congress takes lead in 47 and 37 seats respectively.
• Saffron party takes lead 45 seats, followed by Congress in 36 and JD(S) in 16.
• As of 8:40 am, JD(S) is leading in 14 seats.
• Early trends reflect exit poll's prediction as BJP leads in 38 seats.
• While BS Yeddyurappa is leading in his Shikarpur constituency, CM Siddaramaiah has taken lead in both Chamundeshwari and Badami.
• The saffron party has taken an early lead in 31 constituencies. 
• Out of 67 constituencies, both Congress and BJP is leading in 28 seats. JD(S) is constant at 11 seats.
• BJP gains lead in 5 more seats. Congress is leading in 26 seats while JDS is leading in 11.
• Counting of votes is being carried out in 45 seats.  BJP has taken the lead the lead in 20 constituencies and is being closely followed by Congress in 17 seats. 
• Congress workers are performing puja outside the AICC office in Delhi.

• CM Siddaramaiah is leading in Chamundeshwari.
• Congress is leading in 21 seats, followed by BJP in 9. JD(S) is leading in 3 constituencies.
• As of 8:17 am, counting is under progress in 33 constituencies.
• Congress is leading in 19 seats, followed by BJP in 6. JD(S) is leading in 3 constituencies.
•  Cong: 16
  BJP: 4
  JD(S): 3
• Talking about the possibility of a post-poll alliance with JD(S), CM Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra told ANI: "Senior party leaders will decide on this, but we are confident and hope to form government on our own."
• Counting for the 222 seats begins. Postal ballots to be counted first
• About 11,000 police personnel, 1 Rapid Action Force company & 20 Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) companies have been deployed across Bengaluru 

The results of the battle between BJP and Congress, and regional powers for the last southern fortress — Karnataka — will be announced on Tuesday, May 15. In fact, the entire nation is waiting with bated breath to know whether it will be Congress' Siddaramaiah, who will go for his second innings, or if BJP's Yeddyurappa will put an end to the five-year reign of the grand old party in the state.

The counting of the votes will begin at 8 am and conclude at 6 pm. According to the Election Commission, the polling for the formation of the 15th Legislative Assembly in Karnataka witnessed a voter turnout of 70 percent. The turnout was affected owing to heavy rains in some parts of the state like Hubli and high temperatures in other parts like Kalaburgi.

The 2013 state assembly elections had witnessed a total voter turnout of 71.45 percent.

A total of 2,654 candidates are contesting for the 222 seats in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, which are spread across 30 districts. Security has been tightened and strict orders like no celebrations, processions, and bursting of crackers near the counting centers have been levied.