Karnataka bypoll results live updates: Siddaramaiah, Gundu Rao resign, throwing state Congress in turmoil

BJP BC Patil leads Congress's Bannikod in Hirekerur in first round

Athani: Mahesh Kumthalli of BJP leads in the first round

BJP candidate BC Patil leads in postal ballots in Hirekerur

Ballari; After first round, BJP's Anand Singh is leading

Trend reverses in Hunsur, HP Manjunath of Congress now leading BJP's Vishwanath by 900 votes

BJP leading in 11, Congress in 2 and JD(S) in 1 seat

Counting delayed in Shivajinagar

Trends available for 13 seats: BJP leads in 12, JD(S) 1

Vishwanath of BJP is leading in Hunsur after postal ballots counting

Counting of votes begin

Strom room where the EVMs are kept were opened in the presence of agents of the candidates by the officials at KR Pet in Mandya district

The elections were held for 15 assembly seats which were left vacant after the legislators resigned in July, triggering the collapse of the Congress-JDS coalition and paving the way for the BJP to come to power: ANI

Counting of votes for Karnataka bypolls to take place today. Visuals from a counting centre in Bengaluru

JD(S) state president HK Kumaraswamy said the opposition parties combined would get more than 12 seats and the BJP government will fall after results are declared on Monday.

In Belagavi, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said the BJP’s hope to win a majority “is an illusion and is based on the exit polls”. “Exit polls have been proved wrong time and again and most recently in Maharashtra and Haryana,” Siddaramaiah said. “BJP leaders who are saying Karnataka will be Congress-mukt are living in a make-believe world.”

Reacting to Yediyurappa’s comment, Congress legislator DK Shivakumar sarcastically said the BJP might win all 15 seats. “I don’t know why Yediyurappa left two seats for the opposition parties,” Shivakumar said. “People may have blessed his government in all seats which went to polls.”

However, Yediyurappa insisted that he would lead a “stable government” for the next three-and-a-half years as he expects the party to bag 13 seats. “I am confident the BJP will win 13 of the 15 seats. According to our expectations, the Congress and JD(S) will win one each,” Yediyurappa said on Sunday.

The opposition parties, especially the JD(S), are hoping to limit the BJP to less than five seats. This could pave the way for a new alliance with the JD(S) emerging kingmaker. The regional party could either support the BJP, or it could forge another alliance with the Congress and form another coalition government.

An ‘unfavourable’ result for the BJP would mean a resurgence of the Congress and JD(S). The BJP might then continue ‘Operation Lotus’ (poach MLAs from the rival parties) or push for President’s rule.

The BJP needs to win at least six seats to continue in power. It is confident of securing a majority — as is the opposition Congress and JD(S). A victory in six seats will take BJP’s number in the assembly to 112 in a 223-member house (it has the support of independent Mulbagal MLA and excise minister H Nagesh).