Karnataka bypoll results: BJP looks set for majority

Bengaluru: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is heading for a simple majority in the 223-member Karnataka Assembly, as it is leading in 12 of the 15 constituencies on Monday.

Counting of votes polled in the December 5 Karnataka bypolls to 15 assembly constituencies is underway, said an official on Monday.

The ruling BJP has taken an early lead in 12 out of 15 Assembly constituencies.

The Karanataka bypoll results will be a big boost for Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s four-month-old government, which was formed after defections from the previous Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition.

Karnataka bypolls were held for 15 of 17 assembly seats left vacant by MLAs who resigned in July, which held to the collapse of the Congress-JDS coalition.

With 104 members excluding the Speaker and the support of an Independent, the BJP has 105 seats in the Assembly, including one nominated from the Anglo-Indian community with voting rights.