After a high-pitch campaign, stage set for Karnataka polls

Capping an intense campaign that saw sparks fly, Karnataka goes to high-stake assembly polls tomorrow amid elaborate security arrangements.

The main players -- the ruling BJP, the Congress and JDS -- were engaged in high pitched campaigning, as also Karnataka Janatha Party of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has broken away from BJP.

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi led the Congress charge against the beleaguered BJP in the state which is mired in allegations of corruption while Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi spiced up the counter-attack by the ruling party. Some poll surveys have predicted majority for the Congress or it emerging as the single largest party but falling short of a handful of seats, followed by BJP and JDS.

It's interesting to see how many seats KJP would bag and if Yeddyurappa would be "king-maker" in the post-poll scenario.

As many as 1.35 lakh police personnel -- 60,000 from the state, 20,000 homeguards and rest from central paramilitary and neighbouring states -- would be deployed to ensure peaceful and smooth conduct of the elections.

Polling would be held from 7 AM to 6 PM -- timing extended by an hour by an Election Commission order today -- in 223 Assembly segments of the total 224. Election in Periyapatna was put off to May 28 following the death of BJP candidate.