Karnataka election results: Modi rallies set to pay off, BJP leads; updates

The Karnataka Assembly election 2018 result is close to being known as vote counting is underway on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally blitz in the state poised to pay off. According to TV reports, the BJP was leading in 112 seats, Congress was leading in 68 seats, the JD(S) in 40, and others in two seats. Trends showed BJP chief ministerial Candidate B S Yeddyurappa was leading from Shikaripura, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was leading from the Badami seat and was trailing from Chamundeshwari. Further, BJP workers were reportedly celebrating outside the party office in Bengaluru.

According to official Election Commission trends as of 12.02 pm, the BJP was leading in 115 seats, the Congress in 63, the Janata Dal (Secular) in 40, the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party in one, and the Bahujan Samaj Party in one.

A record 72.36 per cent of the 50.7 million (5.07 crore) electorate cast their votes, with 27,908 electors in defence services exercising their franchise through postal ballots.