Karnataka Assembly elections to be held on May 12, counting on May 15

New Delhi: Karnataka will go to polls on May 12. The election will be held in single phase. Counting of votes will be held on May 15.
The Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately, the Election Commission of India said.
April 17 is the date of the issue of notification, last date of filing nomination is April 24, while the Election Commission has set April 27 as the last date of withdrawal of nomination.
When asked on how BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya had put the dates of Karnataka elections on social media, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat said, “Certain things may have leaked for which Election Commission will take appropriate action.”
The CEC added, “It will be investigated. Be assured that actions legally and administratively befitting will be taken.”
The CEC said voting guide will be provided to every family.
The commission has decided to press in adequate Central security force in the state to keep vigil on the any untoward incident in Karnataka and violence in the poll bound state.
Karnataka is one of the few states where the Congress is in power. It is also the only state in south India where the BJP had been able to form a government.
The high octane campaign for the elections has witnessed both the top parties alleging each other of communal politics and political murders as well as tit-for-tat charges of large-scale corruption.
The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly expires on May 28 and before that, the new house has to be constituted.
Incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is eyeing a second term in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in 20 states, is trying to expand in the 21st state. BJP’s chief ministerial candidate is BS Yeddyurappa. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) is the third party in the fray.