Karnataka will go to polls on May 10 to elect a new 224 member assembly, with the BJP and the Congress as the key contestants and the Janata Dal (Secular) as the third major player. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect.
The Election Commission said on Wednesday that counting of votes will be taken up on May 13 after the single-phase polling, being dubbed as a big electoral fight ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha showdown. Currently, the BJP has119 seats, followed by Congress with 75. The JD (S) has 28 MLAs, while two seats are vacant.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the notification for the elections will be issued on April 13 and the last date for filing nomination papers will be April 20. The nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 21 and the last date for withdrawal is April 24.
The ruling BJP and the Congress have already launched spirited campaigns to woo over 5.24 crore voters, who are entitled to cast their ballots at 58,282 polling stations across the state.