After months of campaigns, Karnataka goes to the polls on May 12, Saturday. Currently ruled by the Congress, the fight in the state is primarily between the ruling party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with a crucial role expected to be played by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gauda’s Janta Dal (Secular).
The BJP is aiming to win a state election in the south of India – with the party president Amit Shah saying they are looking at the Karnataka elections as BJP’s “gateway to the south”.
The fate of over 2,600 candidates will be decided by 4.97 crore voters in the state. Voting takes place in 55,600 polling booths. Voting is on in 222 of the 224 constituencies in the state today. Elections in two constituencies won’t take place today – one in R.R. Nagar, where nearly 10,000 electoral photo identity cards were found and elections were postponed, and two, in Jayanagar where elections were countermanded after the death of BJP candidate, two-time MLA, B.N. Vijayakumar. He died of a massive heart attack during an election rally. A new date for the election will be announced later.
According to the latest updates, there was 24 per cent votes polled till 11 am.
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