Karnataka:  All eyes will be on the exit poll results, which are expected to be issued by various agencies around 6 pm, as voting for the crucial Assembly elections in Karnataka began on Wednesday with nearly 37.25% of votes cast as of 1 pm. The Congress is actively retaliating and striving for a comeback before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while the ruling BJP is attempting to make history by maintaining its hegemony in the south.

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he primary candidates in the election are the BJP, Congress, and Janata Dal (Secular), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. The outcome of the day-long election would affect a number of well-known politicians, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Congressmen Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, among others.

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The Congress wants to take control and position itself as the main opponent before the 2024 parliamentary elections, while the ruling BJP wants to make history by becoming the first incumbent party to win reelection in 38 years. The JD (S) has a key role to play because, as in the past, it might play the role of "kingmaker" or end up in power if there is a hung assembly.

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Several organisations, including CVoter, Lokniti-CSDS, Axis My India, and Today's Chanakya, will reveal their exit poll results after the voting for the Karnataka Assembly election concludes at 6 PM. The Election Commission of India will release the official results on May 13.

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