Karnataka will vote for a new government on Saturday, May 12. The election is seen as tight race between the state’s ruling Congress and the BJP, which hopes to win back the only southern state it has ruled in the past. The Janata Dal (Secular) says it cannot be counted out.

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and several other key state elections before that, the battle for Karnataka is being closely watched. From right outside the grand Vidhan Soudha or state assembly in capital Bengaluru, a recap by our reporter Kavyasri Srinath about key dates, key issues and the major players key in this election.