Karnataka elections: High-octane campaign ends, BJP, Congress, JDS set for May 12 battle

The high-pitched poll campaigning for crucial Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 came to an end at 5 PM on Thursday. Around 50 senior leaders of the BJP, including party president Amit Shah and Union Ministers, Nirmala Sitharaman, Prakash Javadekar, Ananth Kumar, and DV Sadananda Gowda, hit the streets on the last day of campaigning.

On Thursday, hours before the curtains came down on campaigning, key leaders, Rahul Gandhi. Piyush Goyal and Amit Shah addressed separate press conferences during which they highlighted key aspects and focus areas of each party's campaign that lasted close to two months.

The BJP believes that a win in Karnataka will be its gateway to dominating politics in the South. The Congress is of the view that a win in Karnatakawill give it the clout in requires to challenge the BJP in the 2019 general elections, while the Janata Dal (Secular) is essaying the kingmaker's role in anticipation of a possible split verdict.

In total, there are more than 2654 candidates, including 219 women, in the fray for 224 seats in Karnataka. As per the data released by Chief Electoral Office in Karnataka, the BJP will contest all 224 seats, while the Congress will contest 222 seats. The HD Devegowda-led Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) will contest on 201 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Mayawati, which came into an alliance with the JD(S), will contest on 20 seats.

The polling for 223 out of 224 Assembly seats in Karnataka will be held on May 12. The election for one constituency - Jayanagar - has been postponed following the death of BJP candidate BN Vijay Kumar. The results for Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 will be declared on May 15.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)