Voting for Karnataka bypoll in 15 assembly constituencies began at 7 am on Thursday. A total of 37.78 lakh electors are eligible to cast their vote between 7 am to 6 pm. The byelections, being held to fill posts left vacant by 17 Congress and JDS rebel MLAs, will decide the fate of chief minister BS Yediyurappa led BJP government in Karnataka.
HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition government had collapsed in July owing to disqualification of the 17 rebel MLAs.
The BJP needs to win at least six of the seats to remain in majority in the 225-member assembly (including the Speaker, who has a casting vote), which would still have two vacant seats -- Maski and R R Nagar.
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Voter turnout till 1 pm 31.02%
A voter turnout of 31.02 per cent was recorded till 1 p.m. in the 15 Assembly seats in Karnataka in the third round of polling, the Election Commission said on Thursday, IANS reported.
'Don't know if my father will vote for me or official BJP candidate': Sharath Bachegowda
In Hoskote constituency, rebel BJP candidate Sharath Bachegowda is contesting as an independent candidate. He said, he doesn't know whether his Father B N Bachegowda who is a sitting BJP MP, will cast vote for him or the official party candidate MTB Nagaraj.
17.6% voting recorded till 11 am
In the by-polls to 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka, a voter turnout of 17.60 per cent was recorded till 11 a.m, the Election Commission said on Thursday, reports IANS.
Constituency-wise voting percentage at 11 a.m. was 23.10 in Athani, 21.34 in Kagwad, 20.45 in Gokak, 23.87 in Yellapur and 20.03 in Hirekeru.
In Ranibennur, the voting percentage was 19.08, 20.03 per cent in Vijayanagara, 20.78 per cent in Chikkaballapur, 10.97 per cent in K. R. Pura, 13.13 per cent in Yeshwantpura, 15.71 per cent in Mahalakshmi Layout and 9.20 per cent in Shivajinagar.
In Hosakote, 22.39 per cent voting was recorded, 20.1 per cent in Krishnarajapete and 19.12 per cent in Husunuru, the Election Commission said.
Physically challenged complain of lack of access facilities
Physically challenged voters complain of lack of access facilities to vote in a few polling booths.
Voter turnout of 6.33 % recorded till 9am in 15 assembly seats: Election Commission
A voter turnout of 6.33 per cent was recorded till 9 a.m. in the 15 Assembly seats in Karnataka in the first round of polling, the Election Commission said on Thursday.
Constituency-wise voting percentage at 9 a.m. was 8.33 in Athani, 6.94 in Kagwad, 6.11 in Gokak, 7.54 in Yellapur and 5.59 in Hirekeru.
In Ranibennur, the voting percentage was 6.22, 6.5 per cent in Vijayanagara, 6.91 per cent in Chikkaballapur, 6.15 per cent in K. R. Pura, 4.19 per cent in Yeshwantpura, 8.21 per cent in Mahalakshmi Layout and 3.04 per cent in Shivajinagar.
In Hosakote, 9.01 per cent voting was recorded, 6.2 per cent in Krishnarajapete and 6.18 per cent in Husunuru, the election commission said.
6% voting during first two hours
An estimated 6.06 per cent of voting took place during the first two hours since polling began in 15 assembly constituencies going bypolls in Karnataka on Thursday, reports PTI
According to voter turnout figures available till 9:26 am, highest turnout of 9.01 per cent was recorded in Hoskote, while the lowest was in Shivajinagar with 3.04 per cent.
165 candidates in fray in 15 assembly seats
There are 165 candidates in the fray of which 156 are men and nine are women.
The BJP and the Congress have 15 candidates each in the fray, 12 of the JD(S) and the remaining are from smaller parties and Independents.
Voting underway in Gokak assembly seat
Voting underway at a polling station for by-poll to Gokak Assembly constituency in Karanataka.
BJP's Ranebennur candidate casts his vote
BJP candidate from Ranebennur Assembly constituency, Arun Kumar Guttur casts his vote at a polling station at Kodiyala Hospet in Ranebennur.
First published: Dec 05, 2019 06:46 IST