Live Update: Mankal Vaidya wins Bhatkal assembly seat

Kumta - The political fate of Bhatkal and Honnavar constituency will become clear in the next few hours with election officials, media and MLA candidates camping at Kumta. Hundreds of people from Bhatkal have also headed for the official counting. While election analysis trends support are no clear winner, it is believed the winning candidate from the Bhatkal-Honnavar constituency will have only a marginal advantage. Election officials have also imposed restrictions across the state including a ban on sale of liquor, bursting of crackers and assembly of five or more people near the counting centres. Processions, protests, announcements, slogan shouting and other noisy activities have also been banned, according to a report on CNN-IBN. Counting starts at Kumta Baalika College and here are the updates: 8:30 IST - A slight delay has been notified at the counting center in Kumta Baalika College. Vote counting expected to begin only after half hour. 8:52 IST - This photo sent to us by our correspondent Rizwan Gangavali shows the media delegation assembled inside the vote counting center. 9:50 IST - Two rounds of voting have been completed. Congress, BJP and Mankal Vaidya running in the lead at the moment. 10:05 IST - After 23 rounds, Congress is leading with 3144 votes at the moment. KJP is close behind at 3044 votes. JD(S) and Mankal Vaidya votes are not yet known. 10:14 IST - After 24 rounds, Congress lead is marginalised to 147 votes as KJP closes in. 10:33 IST - After 43 rounds, Congress is still leading by 194 votes. 5315 votes polled for Congress and 5140 for KJP. 10:57 IST - After 59 rounds of counting, KJP takes the lead from Congress in Bhatkal-Honnavar constituency. Shivanand Naik - 7183 votes, JD Naik - 6758 votes. 11:32 IST - After 91 rounds, Independent candidate Mankal Vaidya takes the lead with 11,540 votes. KJP is closely following in the second spot with 11,419 votes. 11:49 IST - Largest margin lead till now. Mankal Vaidya, Independent candidate surpasses expectations. He is now leading by 1438 votes. Votes polled till now for Mankal (13759), Shivanand Naik (12321), JD Naik (10579) and Inayatullah Shabandri (7347). 12:04 IST - Mankal Vaidya still leading with 18,669 votes. Shivanand Naik has 15,279 votes and J.D. Naik in 3rd place with 12,420 votes. Inayatullah Shabandri is closing the gap as he climbs 2000 votes to reach 9962 votes. 12:16 IST - Mankal Vaidya is leading with dominance now. 22,687 votes have been polled for the independent candidate, giving him a lead of 6220 votes. KJP's Shivanand Naik is on 16,467 votes. This race is becoming rather one sided at this point of time. JD Naik and Inayatullah Shabandri continue to remain the other two candidates in the running for any chance to become an MLA. 12:40 IST - Mankal Vaidya is close to the winning mark now. He has topped 30,237 votes. KJP is still far behind with 22007 votes. The lead is now imposing with a difference of 8,230 votes. Bhatkal votes to be counted in a few minutes from now. 13:02 IST - The lead is now slimming down as Bhatkal votes are being counted. After 209 rounds, Mankal Vaidya is in first place with 31522 and KJP in second place with 23624. 13:18 IST - News has it that Mankal Vaidya has won the assembly seat from Bhatkal-Honnavar Taluka. A major upset for political parties like Congress, KJP and JD(S). Last booth votes being counted at the moment. Final tally to be uploaded in a few moments. Exit polls and post-election analysis for the Bhatkal-Honnavar constituency have all gone to the dumps with independent candidate Mankal Vaidya registering a historic win. It remains to be seen whether he will now forge an alliance with any of the major political parties. Official result still awaited from the counting center.