Live: Karnataka Assembly elections on May 12, results on May 15

The Election Commission of India is announcing the polling dates for the 2018 Karnataka Assembly Elections at a press conference at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, on Tuesday morning.

The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Assembly ends on May 28.

Updates

It is a single phase election. The date of voting is May 12, 2018 and the counting is on May 15, 2018.

The EC will probe the alleged leak of information on the schedule which was tweeted by BJP IT Cell. The BJP IT Cell tweeted partially wrong information several minutes before the CEC announced the schedule. "Strongest possible action will be taken if there is any leak," says Chief Electoral Commissioner OP Rawat. 

The press briefing begins in New Delhi. Chief Electoral Commissioner OP Rawat begins the briefing.

There are 4.96 crore eligible voters (about 90 lakh added to draft electoral roll) in the State. There are 56,696 polling stations, compared to 52,034 in the 2013 polls, about 9% increase. Matching of EVM output with VVPAT slips at one randomly selected polling station in each constituency. Photographs of the candidates will also be available on the ballots in the EVMs.

Last election, the voter turnout was around 71.45%. Commission will deploy observers in sensitive polling stations. The ceiling for expenditure is Rs. 28 lakhs in Karnataka.

Preview

Sources at the ECI told The Hindu in the lead-up to the polls that in order to draw more voters this time, "the election date could be in the middle of the week so that the urban voter comes to the polling booth instead of travelling".

Karnataka is one of the few States in the country where the Congress, under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has power. With the BJP sweeping the polls in several States since coming to power at the Centre in 2014, it remains to be seen whether the party can establish a foothold in south, which has for long been dominated by regional parties.

There are indications that the south solidarity is worrying the BJP. Mr. Siddaramaiah has strongly raised the issue of discrimination against southern States in the parameters chosen by the 15th Finance Commission.

In January, a six-member team of officials of the Election Commission of India concluded a two-day review of the Legislative Assembly election preparedness in Karnataka. It also took stock of the schedule of various examinations, fairs, and festivals in the State. Sources who attended the meeting indicated that the possible election dates could be between the last week of April and the first week of May.

Inputs from Devesh Pandey