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:
Stage set for counting of votes in Karnataka
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.
"Reaching Out To Nobody": Congress Says No Talks With JDS In Karnataka
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's Final Forecast
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.
Big Karnataka Results Day Is Here
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.
"National Leadership Will Decide": BS Yediyurappa On Tie-Ups After ResultFormer 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 JD(S) To Suffer Setback In Up To 25 "Winnable Seats", Says HD KumaraswamyJD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said that his party is expected to take a "hit" in up to 25 Assembly segments, where it had chances of winning, due to financial crunch, in the Karnataka elections held today.
Despite financial constraints, his party will be ahead of Congress and BJP in terms of winning the number of seats, the former Chief Minister claimed, as he asserted that his party will be 'King' and not just the 'King maker'. Read
here Don't Believe Exit Polls Numbers, Will Cross 146: Karnataka Congress Chief
"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.
Congress Leader Jagadish Shettar On Exit Polls "Congress will get a clear majority and form the government. According to exit polls, Congress is the single largest party. There is no question of coalition with any other party, especially JD(S)," said Congress leader Jagadish Shettar, who ditched BJP right before polls.
Congress Chief M Kharge On Voting At This Karnataka Booth For 55 YearsCongress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday cast his vote in Kalaburagi's Basava Nagar and said the Congress will come to power with a majority.
"I've been voting at that polling booth for the last 55 years. Seeing the enthusiasm of the people, I feel that my party will come to power and we will win with the majority," said Mr Kharge.
"We've To Vote Against Communal Politics": Actor Prakash Raj "We've to vote against communal politics. We need Karnataka to be beautiful," actor Prakash Raj after voting earlier today.
"No Question Of A Hung Assembly": BJP's BS Yediyurappa
"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.
"Exit Polls Are Exit Polls, Can't Be 100% Correct": Karnataka Chief Minister"Exit polls are exit polls, it can't be 100% correct. We are going to get a complete majority and form the government. I think we should wait till 13th May," says Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Political Researcher On Modi Factor In Karnataka
"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.
What Exit Polls Numbers Say
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.
Warning: Exit Polls Do Not Always Get It RightStatutory warning: the exit polls do not always get it right. They have been way off the mark in the past.
Exit Polls Put JDS In Kingmaker PositionHD Kumaraswamy-led JD(S), which said it will form the government on its own, finds itself in a familiar territory again - with the exit polls predicting a hung house. The JDS could yet again play the kingmaker.
Critical Test For BJP?
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.
What Exit Polls Numbers SayNews 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.
In the Suvarna News-Jan ki Baat, the BJP stands to gain 94-117 seats, while the Congress gets 91-106 seats.
TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat predicts 88-98 seats for the BJP and 99-109 seats for the Congress.
Zee News Matrize predicts 79-94 seats for the BJP and 103-118 seats for the Congress.
Karnataka Elections 2023: 3 Exit Polls Give Edge To Congress, 2 To BJP, Hung Assembly Predicted
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.
Karnataka Exit polls: Three-Cornered Fight In Karnataka
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.
Karnataka Elections 2023: BJP Hit By "40% Commission Sarkar" Charge
The BJP's popularity has been hit by corruption allegations, with the Congress alleging that it is "40% commission sarkar" charge.
Karnataka Elections: What Happened In 2018 Elections In 2018, the BJP emerged as the top vote-getter but fell short of securing a ruling majority. They assumed power a year later -- allegedly by persuading members of the ruling coalition to defect.
Karnataka Election 2023: PM Modi Powers BJP Show
The BJP campaign was powered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held massive rallies, roadshows and came down heavily on the principal rival Congress.
The Karnataka elections are crucial for BJP and Congress with JD-S also keen to improve its performance. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.