Karnataka election 2018: BJP workers celebrate outside office in Delhi

After first round of counting for Karnataka Assembly election result 2018, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in pole position, while the JD(S) is in the kingmaker position.

Their combined current lead indicates that the BJP and JD(S) together can form the government in Karnataka.

Both parties, however, have kept mum on such a possibility. The Congress says "all options are open".

The Election Commission on Tuesday started counting of votes for declaring the Karnataka assembly election results 2018. Exit polls have predicted a close contest between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

After a high-decibel campaign, 222 of the 224 seats in the Karnataka legislative assembly witnessed voting on May 12. The Election Commission postponed voting in two seats due to alleged irregularities in one and the death of a candidate in the other.