A hung house in Karnataka? Five of 10 exit polls have predicted so, however the majority of them have given a slight edge to the Congress. The predictions also indicate that HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular is likely to play kingmaker. The majority mark in the 224-seat assembly is 113 seats.
The stakes are high for the ruling BJP and much higher for the opposition Congress, which is hoping to come back to power. Mr Kumaraswamy's party maintains that it will get enough seats to form a government on its own.
Arvind Kejriwal's Aaam Aadmi Party too is contesting the polls in the southern state. So is Sharad Pawar's NCP.
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS on the exit polls results:
The counting will begin at 8 am in 36 centres across the state. Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the state, especially in and around the counting centres, to avoid any untoward incidents. Karnataka registered a "record" turnout of 73.19 per cent in the voting on May 10. With most exit polls predicting a tight contest between the Congress and BJP, leaders of the two parties seem "jittery" over the outcome, while the JD(S) appears to be expecting a hung verdict, which would enable it to play a role in government formation.
The Congress has denied reaching out to HD Kumaraswamy's party, amid reports that it may play a big role in the event of a hung assembly. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party would win a "thumping majority" and that it would decide its moves based on the numbers tomorrow.
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said he was confident that his party would win the election on its own and dismissed speculation that it could be bested by a potential alliance between the BJP and the Janata Dal-Secular or JD-S.
The big day is here. The votes will be counted from 8 am. The stakes are high for the ruling BJP and much higher for the opposition Congress, which is hoping to come back to power. Mr Kumaraswamy's party JDS maintains that it will get enough seats to form a government on its own.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said the central leadership of the BJP will take a call on whether the party will approach Janata Dal-Secular for support if today's election does not produce a clear winner. Despite the exit poll results which gave the edge to the Congress, the BJP was set to win with an absolute majority, he said. Read here
"My first reaction is that I don't believe these numbers (exit polls). I stand by my numbers that we will cross 146 seats. People are highly educated and are looking at larger interests because the double engine has failed in Karnataka. The situation will not arise (to form alliance with any party)," Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar reacts to exit polls.
"Even now I am 100% confident that we are going to form the government with absolute majority. There is no question of a hung assembly or a coalition government, but the national leadership will take the final call. We are going to get 115-117 seats so the question of joining with JD(S) right now does not arise. Let us wait and see," says senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa.
"Modi magic works in conjunction with the state leadership. Whatever the BJP will largely do will be based on his direction but can he pull it off alone, I doubt that," political researcher Kartikeya Batra told NDTV.
ABP News-C Voter are expecting the Congress to win 83-95 seats and the Congress 100 to 112 seats. The JD(S) it expects will win between 21 and 29 seats.
These assembly elections are a critical test for the ruling BJP that's hoping to beat precedent and return to power as well as for the Congress looking for electoral revival.
News Nation CGS predicts 114 seats for the BJP, and 86 for the Congress. Republic TV-P MARQ predicted 85-100 seats for the BJP and 94-108 for the Congress.
A hung house is predicted in Karnataka, say exit polls. Three exit polls have given edge to Congress, while 2 are in favour of the the BJP.
The BJP is hoping for another straight term, the Congress is banking on the revolving door trend. The JDS, which dominates over 61 seats, may play spoiler.
The BJP's popularity has been hit by corruption allegations, with the Congress alleging that it is "40% commission sarkar" charge.
The BJP campaign was powered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held massive rallies, roadshows and came down heavily on the principal rival Congress.