So the BJP is leading in 89 seats and the Congress in 76 in the Karnataka Assembly elections as per initial trends available since counting began at 8 am today.


Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was trailing in the Chamundeshwari seat, official sources said, while he was leading in the Badami seat.


JD(S) was leading in one seat, Ramanagara, where its leader H D Kumaraswamy was ahead by about 1,000 votes.


Leads so far:

BJP: 87
Congress: 83
JDS+ 40


The counting of votes in the May 12 elections to 222 of the 224 assembly constituencies began at 8 am. Polling for R R Nagar seat was deferred on account of alleged electoral malpractices, while it was countermanded in Jayanagar seat following the death of the BJP candidate.