Karnataka Assembly elections will be held on May 12 and the results will be declared on May 15 , the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. Addressing the media, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said VVPAT machines, apart from EVMs, will be deployed in Karnataka. The elections for the 224-member Assembly will be a trial by fire for Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the campaign, while the BJP will look to form its 22nd government in the country. In the last election, turnout was recorded at 71.45 per cent. With this announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect. In the 2013 Assembly elections, Congress stormed to power with 122 seats and cornered 36.6 per cent of the vote share, while the BJP won 43 seats. The HD Deve Gowda led Janata Dal (Secular) managed to secure victory in 40 seats and it remains to be seen if the party, which has been hobnobbing with the saffron party, forms a pre-poll alliance.

Karnataka Assembly elections will be held on May 12 and the results will be declared on May 15 , the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. Addressing the media, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said VVPAT machines, apart from EVMs, will be deployed in Karnataka. The elections for the 224-member Assembly will be a trial by fire for Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the campaign, while the BJP will look to form its 22nd government in the country. In the last election, turnout was recorded at 71.45 per cent. With this announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect. In the 2013 Assembly elections, Congress stormed to power with 122 seats and cornered 36.6 per cent of the vote share, while the BJP won 43 seats. The HD Deve Gowda led Janata Dal (Secular) managed to secure victory in 40 seats and it remains to be seen if the party, which has been hobnobbing with the saffron party, forms a pre-poll alliance.