Karnataka Election Results 2018 LIVE: BJP likely to emerge as single largest party, Congress suffers setback
Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 seems to have thrown another googly for Congress. The early trends in Karnataka Election Results 2018 indicate that Bharatiya Janata Party is set to emerge as the single largest party with a comfortable victory, while Congress may get reduced to 25 per cent seats in a 224 assembly.
Both Congress and BJP started off with a neck-and-neck fight in the early morning trends, but as soon as the EVMs were factored in the trends titled heavily towards the BJP. Catch minute-to-minute updates on Karnataka Polls Verdict live on India TV
At 10:25 am, BJP was leading at 112 seats, while Congress had slumped to 66 seat lead. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS), which was hoping to play kingmaker was ahead on 42 seats, others 2.
Regionally, BJP maintained a comfortable lead in Greater Bengaluru, Hyderabad Karnataka, Coastal Karnataka, Mumbai Karnataka and Central Karnataka. In south Karnataka, JDS was ahead, while BJP and Congress remained in a close fight.
As the trends change, the three parties will remain on an edge as the verdict will have a bearing on their fortunes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The 72.13 per cent voter turnout in the elections broke all records and has been the highest since 1952 state polls, according to the state Election Commission.
BJP confident of victory, Congress opens communication channels with JDS for alliance
Buoyed by the early poll trends, BJP top leadership in the state exuded confidence that the party will make the government with any support, while Congress hinted that it has opened communication channels with JDS.
"There is no question of alliance(with JDS) as we are already crossing 112 seats," senior BJP leader Sadananda Gowda told media.
Clinging to hope of returning to power with an alliance government in the state, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that the picture will be clear in another hour. "Correct position will be known by 11 to 11.30 am. I am going to discuss the possibility of JDS alliance with Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot."
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