The first result in the Karnataka Assembly election has gone in favour of Congress. Shakunthala Shetty defeated her nearest rival by a margin of 2672 votes in Puttur constituency.

With most of the trends available now, the party seems to be heading to finish as a single largest party in the new Assembly. JD(S) is likely to emerge as the second largest party pushing the BJP to the third place.

Out of 216 trends available so far, the Congress is leading in 106 constituencies, JD(S) in 47 and BJP 37. KJP is leading in 9 and others in 16.

In Udupi Constituency, Pramod Madhwaraj is well ahead of others in the counting.

Senior Congress leader, Sitaramaiah has taken a huge lead over his nearest BJP rival in Varuna Constituency.

Former Union Minister M.H.Ambreesh, Congress is leading in Mandya Constituency. But another former Union Minister C.M.Ibrahim also of Congress is trailing in Bhadravathi Constituency. In Byndoor Constituency, K. Gopala Poojari, Congress is leading over his nearest BJP rival, B.M.Sukumar Shetty.

Congress is also leading in all constituencies in Dakshin Kannada.

Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar, BJP is leading by a narrow margin in Hubli-Dharwad Central Constituency while Deputy Chief Minister and former President of State BJP, K.S.Eshwarappa is trailing behind S. Rudra Gowda, KJP in Shimoga Constituency.

In Krishnaraja Constituency, Higher Education Minister and BJP candidate, S.A.Ramadas is trailing. Another Minister in the outgoing Assembly, Govind M. Karjol, BJP is leading. The Speaker of the outgoing Assembly K.G.Bopaiah is also leading in Virajpet.

In Holenarasipura, JDS candidate, H.D. Revanna, sitting MLA and son of former Prime Minister, H.D.Deve Gowda is leading.

In Honnali, Shantana Gowda is leading. In Kapu, Lalaji R. Mendon of BJP is leading over his Congress rival Vinay Kumar Sorake. In Karkal, H.Gopal Bhandary of Congress is leading and in Kundapura, Srinivasa Shetty, Independent is leading. In Mangalore, U T Khader of Congress is leading over his BJP rival Chandrahas UllalL.

In Bellary reserved constituency, President of BSR Congress B.Sriramulu is leading. In Ramnagara, JDS State President and former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy is leading.

There are 2940 candidates including 170 women in 223 constituencies. The Congress has pitted its candidates in all the 223 constituencies, while the BJP is contesting in 222 seats and JD(S) in 221. There are 1223 Independents in the fray.

They also include candidates from regional parties like KJP , BSR Congress and also BSP. Polling in Periyapatna assembly constituency in Mysore district has been deferred to May 28 by the Election Commission, following the demise of BJP Candidate.