There are over 2,000 candidates, including over 219 women, in the Karnataka assembly elections 2018.
Counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly elections 2018, which pollsters have said would be a close contest between state's ruling Congress, challenger BJP and HD Deve Gowda's JD(S), began at 8 am today. Several exit polls have predicted that the Karnataka poll battle will throw a hung assembly and JD(S) is likely to play the role of the kingmaker. The 2018 Karnataka assembly poll was one of the most high-profile and bitterly fought elections in recent times. 222 of the 224 seats went to polls on May 12 where 72.13% of Karnataka's 4.96 voters exercised their franchise.
There are over 2,000 candidates, including over 219 women, in the Karnataka assembly elections 2018. There are 36 reserved seats for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes (ST).
As the EVMs open for the counting of votes, here is a list of some of the prominent candidates whose fate is sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
1- Siddaramaiah, Congress
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the face of the Congress campaign in the state, is contesting from two seats - Chamundeshwari and Badami. He had won from the Chamundeshwari assembly constituency in 1983 on a Bharatiya Lok Dal ticket. After being kicked out of the JD(S), he joined the Congress in 2006. The 68-year old leader is hoping to secure another term as a Chief Minister.
2- BS Yeddyurappa, BJP
Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa, 75, is BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in the Karnataka assembly polls. He was the chief minister of the state from 2008 to 2011 before he had to give up the post over corruption charges. Ahead of 2013 assembly polls, Yeddyurappa floated his own party.
He is contesting from Shikaripura.
3- HD Kumaraswamy, JD (S)
Haradanahalli Devegowda Kumaraswamy, the son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, served as the chief minister of Karnataka from 2006 to 2008.
He is contesting from two seats - Ramanagara and Channapatna.
4- G Parameshwara, Congress
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara, 66, is contesting from Koratagere. In 2013, he lost the seat to the JD(S).
5- Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Congress
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s 38-year-old son Yathindra is making his poll debut in the 2018 elections. He is contesting from Varuna in Mysuru, an old seat of his father.
6- Madhu Bangarappa, JD(S)
A son of former Karnataka chief minister S Bangarappa, Madhu is the sitting JD(S) MLA from Sorab constituency. He is facing his elder brother, Kumar Bangarappa, a BJP candidate.
7- KS Eshwarappa, BJP
KS Eshwarappa, the leader of opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, has held several positions in past BJP governments including the deputy chief minister post in the Jagadish Shettar government from 2012 to 2013.
A protégé of Yeddyurappa, Eshwarappa is now considered a rival of the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate.
He has been fielded by the BJP from Shivamogga City constituency.
8- B Sriramulu, BJP
Considered close to controversial Reddy brothers, who face allegations of illegal mining and corruption, Sriramulu is currently a Lok Sabha MP. He is contesting from Molkalmuru and Badami and has been projected as the deputy CM face of the BJP.
9- G Karunakara Reddy, BJP
Oldest of the Reddy brothers, G Karunakara Reddy is contesting from Harapanahalli. Reddy brothers hold significant influence in Karnataka, especially in Bellary and the BJP is relying on them to win maximum seats in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
10- Laxmi Hebbalkar, Congress
37-year old Laxmi Hebbalkar is the president Congress’s women’s wing in Karnataka. After losing 2013 assembly election, she is contesting from the Belagavi (Rural) constituency.
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