BJP or Congress? Karnataka votes to choose its next government
What's the story
More than 4.98cr voters will cast their ballot today to decide the next government in Karnataka.
Polling is being held across 222 constituencies, with voting being countermanded in one and deferred in another.
This election is seeing an intense fight between the Congress, which is waging an existential battle, and BJP, which is looking to get done with its 'party of the north' tag.
Twitter Post
BJP's Sadananda Gowda one of the first to cast vote
Union Minister BJP leader Sadananda Gowda casts his vote in Puttur. #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/vZsFER7spa
— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2018
Details
Polling started at 7am at 55,600 stations across Karnataka
Polling started at 7am at more than 55,600 stations for the state's 4.98cr voters to choose from over 2,600 candidates for the 224-member assembly.
Over 2.52cr are men, 2.44cr women, and 4,552 transgender voters.
3.5L security personnel have been deployed to ensure a free and fair poll.
Long queues were witnessed since early morning particularly in urban centers.
Features
Thousands stranded, elections affected in two constituencies
Though no issues have been recorded with EVMs, thousands have been left stranded at various transports hubs as over 5,000 buses have been diverted for poll-duty.
Elections in RR Nagar have been deferred till May 28 following a major controversy: over 10,000 voter IDs were seized from a flat in Bengaluru.
In Jayanagar, polling was countermanded due to death of sitting MLA BN Vijaykumar.
Parties
JD(S) might impact results in BJP-Congress fight
The main contenders this time are the BJP and Congress; while the former has put up BS Yeddyurappa as its CM face, contesting from the Congress is incumbent CM Siddaramaiah.
Former PM HD Deve Gowda's JD(S) is likely to play kingmaker.
Karnataka hasn't returned successive governments since 1985, with no party winning a second term in office consecutively, but Siddaramaiah is hoping to make history.
Twitter Post
BJP leader offers prayers before polling
Bellary: BJP's B.Sriramalu performed 'gau pooja' (cow worship) before casting his vote. He is contesting against CM Siddaramaiah from Badami constituency. #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/Ht3akZlzK3
— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2018