Karnataka is heading for a hung assembly, five of six exit polls have predicted, and the majority of them predicted a slight edge for the Congress. Their predictions also indicate that HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular is likely to play kingmaker.
The majority mark in the 224-seat assembly stands at 113 seats. Only two exit polls – Times-Now ETG and Zee News Matrize agency – have predicted the possibility of a Congress victory. Two others predicted an upper limit of 114 and 117 for the BJP.
News Nation-CGS has predicted that the state's ruling BJP will cross the majority mark with 114 seats, the Congress will win 86 seats and the JD(S) 21.
The Suvarna News-Jan Ki Baat has also given an edge to the BJP, predicting it will emerge as the single largest party with anything between 94 and 117 seats. The Congress, it said, will get 91-106 seats and the JD(S) 14-24 seats.
Five other exit polls are counting on the Congress emerging as the single largest party, slightly ahead of the BJP in the race.
Times Now-ETG is predicting the Congress will touch the majority mark -- barely. It predicts the party will win 113 seats and the BJP will get 85. Twenty-three seats will go to the Janata Dal Secular, it has predicted.
The Republic TV-P MARQ has predicted that the BJP will win 85-100 of the 224 assembly seats, the Congress will win 94-108 and the JD(S) 24-32 seats.
The TV 9-Bharatvansh-Polstrat predicted 88-98 seats for the BJP, 99-109 seats for the Congress and 21-26 seats for the JD(S).
The Zee News Matrize has predicted 79-94 seats for the BJP and 103-118 seats for the Congress and 25-33 seas for the JD(S).
ABP News-C Voter are expecting the Congress to win 83-95 seats and the Congress 100 to 112 seats. The JD(S) it expects will win between 21 and 29 seats.
The triangular contest for Karnataka ended this evening. The counting of votes will be held on Saturday.