<p>The ruling BJP in Karnataka appears to be headed towards securing a comfortable majority as the saffron party is leading in 12 out of the 15 constituencies for which bypolls were held last week. </p>.<p>If the trends convert into victory, the BJP’s number will go up from 105 to 117, which is well ahead of the halfway mark of 111 in a 222-member Assembly. With this, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will heave a sigh of relief. </p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/liveblog/karnataka-bypoll-results-live-bjp-set-for-bypoll-sweep-cong-accepts-defeat-says-dk-shivakumar-783795.html#1" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of Karnataka Bypoll Results here.</strong></a></p>.<p>Counting of votes is in progress and the Congress is leading in two seats and one Independent candidate looks poised for a win. The JD(S) is not leading in any of the seats, according to the Election Commission.</p>.<p>Going into the bypolls, the BJP employed a two-pronged narrative: The party sought votes for stability as the victory of the disqualified MLAs would prevent the state from staring at midterm polls. Second, Yediyurappa sought to consolidate the Veerashaiva-Lingayat votes, which seems to have worked. </p>.<p>The bypoll trends come as a setback to the Congress and the JD(S). The Congress was desperate for vengeance against the disqualified MLAs, whereas the JD(S) was looking to be relevant. </p>
<p>The ruling BJP in Karnataka appears to be headed towards securing a comfortable majority as the saffron party is leading in 12 out of the 15 constituencies for which bypolls were held last week. </p>.<p>If the trends convert into victory, the BJP’s number will go up from 105 to 117, which is well ahead of the halfway mark of 111 in a 222-member Assembly. With this, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will heave a sigh of relief. </p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/liveblog/karnataka-bypoll-results-live-bjp-set-for-bypoll-sweep-cong-accepts-defeat-says-dk-shivakumar-783795.html#1" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of Karnataka Bypoll Results here.</strong></a></p>.<p>Counting of votes is in progress and the Congress is leading in two seats and one Independent candidate looks poised for a win. The JD(S) is not leading in any of the seats, according to the Election Commission.</p>.<p>Going into the bypolls, the BJP employed a two-pronged narrative: The party sought votes for stability as the victory of the disqualified MLAs would prevent the state from staring at midterm polls. Second, Yediyurappa sought to consolidate the Veerashaiva-Lingayat votes, which seems to have worked. </p>.<p>The bypoll trends come as a setback to the Congress and the JD(S). The Congress was desperate for vengeance against the disqualified MLAs, whereas the JD(S) was looking to be relevant. </p>