8.30 pm

7.30 pm

We expect Karnataka governor to invite JD (S)-Cong coalition which has clear majority to form govt in the state, says Congress.

7.10 pm

6.55 pm

6.06 pm

JD(S) legislative party to meet at 6.15 pm in Bengaluru.

6.00 pm

BJP Parliamentary Board to meet at 7 pm at party headquarters in Delhi today

5.55 pm

HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) wins from Ramanagara constituency.

5.28 pm

BJP has been allowed to prove their majority on the floor of the house by the Governor of Karnataka, says Yeddyurappa.

At the same time, HD Kumaraswamy is also trying to stake his claim to form the next Government of Karnataka.

5.23 pm

H D Kumaraswamy, JDS state president, has sought an appointment of the Governor VR Vala this evening. In his letter to the Governor, he has stated that he has accepted the support of the Congress to form the government.#KarnatakaElection2018 pic.twitter.com/kgvipD5aqt — Bengaluru Connect (@BloreConnect) May 15, 2018

5.08 pm

BJP asks governor Vajubhai Vala to invite them to form government.

5.01 pm

The Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has indicated that he will not meet with anyone, until the final vote is counted.

4.56 pm

4.28 pm

HD Kumaraswamy has sent a letter to the Karnataka Governor saying that he has accepted the Congress's offer for support and is ready to stake claim as Chief Minister of Karnataka. He now seeks an appointment from the Governor.

4.08 pm

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has tendered his resignation to governor. His resignation comes on the back of Congress party not getting majority.

Chief Minister along with Congress state president G Parameshwara met Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala and tendered his resignation.

4.00 pm

3.55 pm

Kumaraswamy ready to be Karnataka Chief Minister, says JD(S)

3.50 pm

Siddaramaiah wins the Badami seat. He converted his marginal lead over the BJP candidate B Sreeramulu to a win. Siddaramaiah secured 67,599 votes while Sreeramulu won 65,903 votes.

3.45 pm

Stock market has declined by 400 points following the new alliance equations in the offing. The Sensex gave up all its gains ending 12.77 points or 0.04 per cent at 35,543.94. The Nifty closed down by 4.75 points or 0.04 per cent at 10,801.85.

3.40 pm

3.20 pm

3.15 pm

Senior Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, says the JD(S) has accepted the offer, therefore, the Congress is ready to stake claim with the JD(S). And Congress decides to make an unconditional offer to Deve Gowda.

“We have decided that the Congress will extend support to the JD(S) to form the government. That’s the best way to keep the BJP out (of power),” Siddaramaiah said. Read more

3.10 pm

What started off as a clen sweep for the BJP, has now reached the point where the BJP has falling short of majority. However, the Congress at 77 seats along with the JD(S) with 38 seats together have the necessary numbers to form the government. The Congress Party has already reached out to the JD(S) for the same.

3.05 pm

The DMK and AIADMK congratulates the BJP for their performance in the Karnataka elections. Read more

3 pm

Is #CongressMuktBharat becoming a reality? In 2014, BJP was in power in 6 states with population of over 339 million; By winning Karnataka, BJP will be in power in 20 of 29 states with population of over 837 million. #KarnatakaVerdict — IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) May 15, 2018

2.55 pm

PTI reports that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will meet Governor Vajubhai Vala today at 4 pm

2.50 pm

Are the Congress and JD(S) going to form an alliance?

Just in: Congress ready to support JDS candidate as CM to stop BJP. They will write to Governor expressing unconditional support to JDS: sources. #KarnatakaVerdict #KarnatakaElections — The Hindu (@the_hindu) May 15, 2018

2.40 pm

A close contest in Badami. Siddaramaiah (67,599) has marginal lead over the BJP candidate B Sreeramulu (65903).

2.27 pm

BJP’s B S Yeddyurappa wins Shikaripura seat. He secured 86,983 votes, beating Congress' Goni Malatesha who secured 51,586 votes.

2.25 pm

Siddaramaiah loses Chamundeswari to GT Devegowda by more than 30,000 votes

2.20 pm

2.15 pm

#KarnatakaElections2018 #Nifty reaction, sharp slide from intraday peak, seems to suggest that most positives are already factored in at current valuations @businessline — lokeshwarri sk (@lokeshwarri) May 15, 2018

2 pm

The BJP has won 31 seats and is leading in 74 seats, ECI data shows. The Congress has won 7 seats and is leading in 68 seats. Regional party JD(S) has won 3 seats and is leading in 36 seats. In sum, the BJP has a total of 105 seats, the Congress has 75 and the JD(S) has 39.

1.30 pm

Karnataka mandate fits Dalal Street. The Sensex surges 206 points and Nifty is up 58 points.

1.25 pm

HD Kumaraswamy wins both Ramanagara and Channapatnam seats.

1.12 pm

ECI data shows that the BJP has won 12 seats and is leading in 94 seats. The Congress has won 2 seats and is leading in 73 seats.

1 pm

The BJP has won 7 seats, while leading in 109 seats. The Congress has won 2 seats and it is leading in 69 seats. The JD(S) has not yet won a seat, but they are leading in 39 seats.

Credit: ECI

12.55 pm

The people of Karnataka have uprooted the corrupt Congress Govt. & chosen BJP's development politics. Congratulations to PM @NarendraModi, Shri @AmitShah, Shri @BSYBJP, & Karyakartas of @BJP4India on winning the State Legislative Assembly election, 2018. #KarnatakaVerdict — Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) May 15, 2018

12.40 pm

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress increases his lead over the BJP candidate B Sreeramulu in Badami. The ECI results website says that the CM has 61,000 of the votes counted. The BJP candidate has 56,822 votes.

Siddaramaiah is also contesting from Chamundeshwari. Here, the CM trails his JD(S), GT Devagowda. The CM has polled 54,370 votes, while GT Devagowda has polled 83,662 votes according to the EC.

12.38 pm

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said that had Congress allied with JD(S), the Karnataka poll's result would be different. Read more...

12.35 pm

Right now the 222 seats neatly split in half . It is BJP 111. Cong+JD S +Others 111. #KarnatakaElections2018 — Chitra Narayanan (@ndcnn) May 15, 2018

12.30 pm

Many NDA leaders congratulate the BJP for its performance in the Karnataka elections. Read more...

12.25 pm

Video: Sandeep Saxena

12.15 pm

The BJP wins two seats.

11.55 am

Congress member Rachit Seth tweets about the results.

Clearly BJP is the winner in Karnataka



We failed & we accept the defeat. It's not easy to defeat Modi when you are mild,decent, mannered and speak the truth.



We also did not market our achievements,did not spend resources for cadre & did not build electoral strategies! — Rachit Seth (@rachitseth) May 15, 2018

11.50 am

B S Yeddyurappa to meet BJP's chief Amit Shah today.

11.45 am

The Congress headquarters bares an empty look

Photo: Ramesh Sharma

11.40 am

I hope to see my good friend Yeddiruppa as CM on 18 th — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 15, 2018

11.34 am

Congratulations to the winners of the Karnataka elections. For those who lost, fight back. If Congress had gone into an alliance with the JD(S), the result would have been different. Very different — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 15, 2018

11.20 am

The markets are reacting positively to the Karnataka results. The Sensex soars to 35,993 and the Nifty hits 10,928.

11.15 am

The BJP has crossed the halfway mark, says EC.

11.05 am

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress reclaims a small lead over the BJP candidate B Sreeramulu in Badami. The ECI results website says that the CM has 33,846 of the votes counted. The BJP candidate has 30,630 votes.

In Chamundeshwari, the CM has polled 29,101 votes, according to the EC. His rival JD(S), GT Devagowda has polled 47,037.

11 am

10.49 am

​The BJP is likely to form the next government on its own in Karnataka. It now leads in 115 seats.

According to the ECI results website, the BJP leads in 111 seats, the congress in 54 seats and the JD(S) in 38 seats.

10.40 am

Shares of Karnataka-based companies such as Sobha, Prestige Estate Projects and Puravankara will remain in focus today. Read more

10.31 am

BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, B S Yeddyurappa ahead in Shikaripura.

JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy leading in both Ramanagara and Channapatna.

Siddaramaiah trailing in both constituencies - Chamundeshwari and Badami

10.19 am

As BJP crosses the halfway mark in leads, Sensex and Nifty cheer

@bse_sensex celebrates @BJP4India victory in #KarnatakaVerdict. Starting the day in negative it is now + 426 points :) @businessline pic.twitter.com/G5zaVlCoAW — Thirumalai Echambadi Raja Simhan (@terajasimhan) May 15, 2018

10.11 am

Trends suggest that even if the JD (S) joins hands with the Congress, it will be difficult to form the govt, says our correspondent Giriprakash

10.10 am

BJP is reaching closer to 100 mark in #KarnatakaElections2018 But they should refrain from forming govt by splitting JDS, if they want to retain power in #GeneralElection2019 ..#Yeddyurappa & #Reddy can be huge liability. Let JDS be in govt — Pratim Ranjan Bose (@pratimbose) May 15, 2018

10.09 am

As BJP surges to become single largest party in 105 seats, celebrations begin BJP headquarters in Bengaluru, reports Sangeetha Chengappa.

10.06 am

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah looses massive lead in Badami. Now leads by only 295 votes over nearest rival B Sriramalu.

10.05 am

Trends at 10 am

BJP 111

Congress 66

JD(S) 43

Others 2

10.04 am

Sensex reacts to Karnataka elections. up by 354 points. Here's the live updates

10.02 am

BJP wins first seat in Karnataka assembly elections at Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district. Umakantk Kotian of BJP has trouncedAbhaychandra Jain of Congress by 22000 votes

10.01 am

#HinduBusinessLine Congress has lost all 14 seats that Rahul campaigned in, which were won by Congress in 2013. Each of 11 seats Modi campaigned in are leading...#KarnatakaElections2018 # @businessline — sangeetha chengappa (@SMedappa) May 15, 2018

9.52 am

Markets cheer BJP leads in Karnataka results. Sensex and Nifty register highs

9.44 am

JDS crosses 40 seats mark in the trends. Former Chief Minister Kumaraswamy is leading.

9.30 am

The BJP leads in 100 seats. The Congress currently leads in 78 seats, while JDS leads in 40 seats.

9.28 am

According to ECI results website

9.25 am

Sensex jumps 157 points as BJP leads in 98 constituencies. Catch the market live updates here

9.21 am

Congress confirms that it is in talks with the JD (S). The party leads in 78 constituencies while the JD (S) leads in 30 seats. BJP leads in 86 seats.

9.19 am

Old Mysore 38/57

Congress leads in 10 seats; BJP in 6 seats; JD(S) in 22 seats

9.16 am

Central Karnataka region 20/21

Congress leads in 3; BJP in 14; JD(S) in 3

9.14 am

Hyderabad Karnataka trends 29/40

Congress leads in 12; BJP in 15; HDD in 2

9.13 am

#HinduBusinessLine @siddaramaiah trails in Chamundeshwari. Son Yathindra, leads in Varuna, a seat his father vacated for him #KarnatakaElections2018@businessline

Congress: 50



BJP: 63



JD(S): 26 — Venkatesh G (@venkyganesh) May 15, 2018

9.11 am

Siddaramaiah trails by 12,000 votes in Chamundeshwari

9.09 am

Bengaluru city trends 30/30

Congress leads in 11; BJP in 14 JD(S) in 5

9.03 am

BJP ahead as counting picks up pace. The party is leading in coastal Karnataka and Bombay Karnataka.

9.01 am

While a victory would help boost the sagging morale of the Congress, losing Karnataka will also drastically weaken its claim for the leadership of a broader anti-BJP alliance. Read more

8.59 am

Trend: 177/222

BJP leads in 78; Congress in 74 seats and JD(S) in 25 constituencies

8.56 am

JD(S) with 25 seats. If it crosses, possibility of a hung assembly, says our correspondent Venkatesh Ganesh.

8.55 am

#HinduBusinessLine as expected JD (S) is leading most constituencies in south Karnataka. — K Giriprakash (@Gprakash1) May 15, 2018

8.53 am

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is trailing in both Chamundeshwari and Badami constituencies.

JD (S) leader and former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy is leading in Ramanagara.

The BJP is ahead in most Lingayat dominated constituencies.

8.49 am

BJP is leading in 74 seats, Congress in 66 and JD(S) in 24 seats of the 164 seats taken up for counting to Karnataka assembly election.

8.47 am

BJP leading in coastal, Hyderabad Karnataka, Mumbai Karnataka and Central Karnataka

8.46 am

As #KarnatakaElections2018 voting begins, keep an eye on

Shirahatti a bellwether seat. Whichever party wins here, that party comes to power. Chamundeshwari and Badami of course. Dharwad and bableshwar seats where architects of Lingayat issue contest #HinduBusinessLine. — Venkatesh G (@venkyganesh) May 15, 2018

8.41 am

JD (S) candidate, GT Deve Gowda leads by 2,000 votes in Chamundeshwari constituency where Siddaramaiah is one of the candidates.

8.38 am

Former chief minister and BJP leader, B S Yeddyurappa leading from his Shikaripura constituency.

As per early leads, the BJP is leading in 44 seats while the Congress is leading in 45 seats. Most of the votes counted are part of the postal ballot.

8.37 am

#HinduBusinessLine Siddaramaiah trails in Chamumdeshwari leads in Badami. — K Giriprakash (@Gprakash1) May 15, 2018

8.36 am

Early lead for the Congress; BJP close behind as postal ballot start getting counted.

8.34 am

Early trends show BJP and Congress in a neck and neck contest.

Counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections began this morning, in what is expected to be a nail biting finish, with most of the exit polls predicting a hung assembly.

A total of 222 of the 224 seats went for polls involving a three-cornered contest between the ruling Congress, the BJP and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s JD(S).