Karnataka election results: 8 seats, including Aland, Hebbal, key to who will form government

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | ByRoshan Kishore and Niranjan Sircar

May 15, 2018 09:18 PM IST

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Data from the Election Commission for the Karnataka assembly election show the margin between the leading and the second-placed candidates in eight seats is less than 2000 votes.

The results in eight assembly seats where counting is still underway and the margin is less than 2,000 votes could determine who forms a government in Karnataka.

A polling official stands next to electronic voting machines in Bangalore. Counting of votes took an interesting turn late on Tuesday, with the BJP falling short of majority despite an impressive showing and the Congress reaching out to the JD(S) to keep PM Narendra Modi’s party at bay.(AP)

The BJP is looking set to emerge as the largest party in the Karnataka assembly, but the 112-seat majority mark might yet elude it. The Congress is preparing to back the Janata Dal Secular forming a government in the state.

Also read: Track the Karnataka election results on our live blog and interactive maps that provide real-time data and analysis

There are 12 constituencies where the difference between the leading and the second-placed candidates is less than 2000 votes. Four of these 12 seats are irrelevant because the contest is between the Congress and the JD(S). In the other eight, the fight is between the BJP and the Congress in six seats and the BJP and the JD(S) in two seats. The seats are Badami , Devar Hippargi, Aland, Maski, Kundgol, Yellapur and Turuvekere Hebbal.

The margin between the leading and the second-placed candidates in Devar Hippargi, Aland, Hebbal and Maski is less than a thousand votes as of 3pm.

In two of these seats, Devar and Aland, the BJP is leading. And in Hebbal and Maski it is trailing.

At 3.15 pm, according to Election Commission figures, BJP is either leading or has won 104 seats. The Congress tall is at 76, and the Janta Dal (Secular) at 39. The other seats are shared between the Bahujan Samaj Party, Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party and one independent. Results are being declared for 222 of the 224 seats in the Karnataka assembly, with voting in two constituencies countermanded.