Bengaluru: Voting for Karnataka election began from 7 am on Wednesday to vote for electing a new 224-member assembly.

In a three-way contest in the state, the ruling BJP aims to break a 38-year jinx in the southern state, which has never voted an incumbent party to power since 1985.

The Congress is hoping to return to power by making 40 per cent sarkara charges against the ruling party, while the JDS could look to play a king-makers role on May 13.

Making an appeal to the voters, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged them to come out in large numbers to vote for good governance, development and prosperity in the state.

To give a push for the BJP in the hustings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held 16 public rallies and 14 roadshows, and BJP National President JP Nadda held 10 public meetings and 16 roadshows.

"On voting day, I urge our sisters and brothers of Karnataka to come out in large numbers to vote for good governance, development and prosperity in the state. Your one vote can ensure a pro-people and pro-progress govt that will continue to take the state to newer heights," Shah tweeted.

Among the the first of the BJP leaders who cast her vote was Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and his family members including his son and BJP candidate BY Vijayendra in Jayanagar polling station in Bengaluru and Shikaripura constituency in Shivamogga district.

Both BJP and Congress parties have fielded some of their top leaders in major constituencies as Varuna (BJP's V Sommana vs Congress' Siddaramaiah), Hubballi-Dharwad Central (BJP's Mahesh Tenginkai vs Jagadish Shettar), Channapatna (JDS' HD Kumaraswamy), Shhigaon (CM Basavaraj Bommai), Kanakapura (BJP's R Ashok vs Congress' DK Shivakumar), and Athani (BJP's Mahesh Kumatahalli vs Congress' Laxman Savadi) among others.

The BJP is gambling on fielding 70-odd new faces in its 224 candidates list, which led some of the heavyweight leaders to quit the party and either join Congress or the JDS.

The high-octane campaign for assembly elections ended on Monday.

(With UNI inputs)