Voting for Karnataka bypolls concludes
Visuals from a polling station in Shivajinagar constituency in Bengaluru. 60 per cent voters in 15 constituencies exercise franchise.
Karnataka: Polling concludes, 60 per cent voters exercise franchise
KARNATAKA
19:19 December 05
Voting for Karnataka bypolls concludes
19:15 December 05
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party writes to Election Commission to initiate action against Jevargi Congress MLA Ajay Singh alleging he was campaigning in Shivajinagar constituency today.
18:24 December 05
60 per cent voter turnout recorded till 5.24 pm
An estimated 60 per cent of the total 37.78 lakh electors have cast their vote until 5:24 pm on Thursday in 15 assembly constituencies, where by-polls is underway, the results of which would determine the longevity of the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka.
According to voter turnout figures available, the highest turnout of 79.8 per cent was recorded in Chikkaballapura and the lowest at K R Puram in Bengaluru at 37.5 per cent.
The other two constituencies in Bengaluru too have recorded comparatively lower turnout, Mahalakshi layout- 40.47 per cent, Shivajinagar- 41.13, officials said. Turnout in other constituencies are Athani- 70.73 per cent, Kagwad- 69.76, Gokak- 66.64, Yellapur- 72.23, Hirekerur-72.42, Ranebennur- 67.92, Vijayanagara- 58.93, Yeshwanthpura-48.34, Hoskote- 76.19, K R Pete- 75.87, and Hunsur- 74.47, they said.
The by-elections are being held to fill the vacancies caused by the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs, whose rebellion led to the collapse of the H D Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS coalition government in July and paved the way for the BJP to come to power.
The ruling BJP needs to win at least six of the 15 seats to remain in the city 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.
While the BJP feels that the people of the constituencies will vote in favour of the party for stability and development, the Congress and JD(S) are optimistic that the voters will back them to defeat the defectors, who have been disqualified.
While there was a direct contest between Congress and BJP in most constituencies, in the southern parts of the state the JD(S) comes into the picture, making it a triangular fight. In Hoskote, however, independent candidate Sharath Bachegowda is a key factor.
14:55 December 05
Voting turnout recorded at 33% till 1:24 pm
An estimated 32.51 per cent of the electorate cast their ballot till 1.24 pm in 15 assembly constituencies of Karnataka, where bypolls are underway that will determine the fate of the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government.
According to voter turnout figures available, the highest turnout 41.72 per cent was recorded in Yellapur, and the lowest in Shivajinagar at 22.12 per cent.
Turnout in other constituencies are: Athani- 40.89 per cent, Kagwad- 37.72, Gokak- 37.37, Hirekerur- 38.63, Ranebennur- 36.09, Vijayanagara- 34.95, Chikkaballapur- 39.03, K R Puram- 22.23, Yeshwanthpura- 27.29, Mahalakshi layout- 22.71, Hoskote- 33.24, K R Pete- 39.47, and Hunsur- 38.2, officials said.
14:13 December 05
12:54 December 05
Karnataka deputy CM Laxman Savadi exercised his franchise for the assembly bypolls at a polling booth in Athani constituency.
12:34 December 05
According to Election Commission's Voter Turnout app, 18.24 per cent voting recorded till 12pm
12:03 December 05
110 family members cast their votes
A family consisting of 110 members in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur, cast their votes.
11:37 December 05
Voter turnout 18.61% till 11 am:24% in Hunsur, 19.90% at KR Pet constituency in Mandya, 20.03% in Vijayanagara
11:31 December 05
Voters click pictures while voting
Few voters in Athani and Ranibennur broke the rule, took their phones inside the election booth, and clicked pictures.
11:29 December 05
6.06 per cent voter turn out in first 2 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.
According to voter turnout figures available till 9:26 am, highest turnout of 9.01 per centwas recorded in Hoskote, while the lowest was in Shivajinagar with 3.04 per cent.
BJP candidates from K R PuramByrathi Basavaraj, Gopalaiah of Mahalakshmi Layout, S T Somashekar of Yeshwanthpura were among the early voters in their polling
booths.
09:07 December 05
Voting underway at a polling station in Gokak Assembly constituency
Voting underway at a polling station for by-poll to Gokak Assembly constituency.
08:10 December 05
BJP candidate from Ranebennur Assembly constituency, Arun Kumar Guttur casts his vote
BJP candidate from Ranebennur Assembly constituency, Arun Kumar Guttur casts his vote at a polling station at Kodiyala Hospet in Ranebennur.
07:49 December 05
People queue up at a polling station in Hoskote
People queue up at a polling station in Hoskote, to cast their votes.
07:29 December 05
Voting for by-election to Shivaji Nagar Constituency, underway
Voting for by-election to Shivaji Nagar Constituency, underway at Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Girls High School and P.U. College, Tasker Town.
07:13 December 05
Voting is underway in fifteen assembly constituencies of Karnataka
Bengaluru: Voting is underway in fifteen assembly constituencies of Karnataka on Thursday, the results of which would determine the fate of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in the state.
The polling that began at 7 am is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm, the results of which will be declared on December 9.
The byelections are being held to fill the vacancies caused by the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and JDS MLAs, whose rebellion led to the collapse of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July and paved the way for the BJP to come to power.
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.
In the assembly with the current strength of 208 after the disqualifications, the BJP has 105 MLAs (including an independent), the Congress 66 and the JD(S) has 34 MLAs. There is also one BSP member, a nominated member and the Speaker.
Thirteen of the disqualified MLAs have been fielded by the BJP after they joined the party last month following the Supreme Court allowing them to contest the bypolls.
During the campaign, the BJP sought votes for "stability", while the Congress and JD(S) urged the electorate to defeat the disqualified legislators responsible for the collapse of their coalition government in July.
Among 15 constituencies going to the bypolls, 12 were held by Congress and three by JD(S).
BJP has fielded 13 of the 16 disqualified legislators as its candidates from their respective constituencies from where they had won in the 2018 assembly elections on Congress and JDS tickets.
A total number of 165 candidates - 156 men and 9 women - are in the fray.
Among the major political parties, while BJP and Congress are contesting all the 15 seats while the JD(S) has fielded candidates in 12.
The constituencies going to bypolls are: Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagar, Chikballapur, KR Puram, Yeshwanthpur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Hoskote, KR Pet and Hunsur.
Speculations are rife about Congress and JD(S) not being averse to joining hands once again to form a coalition government in case the BJP fails to garner the required number of seats to stay in majority.
Political parties and officials were of the view that there is a general feeling among public at large against the bypolls and political developments that led to it and this might affect the turnout.
In any by-election voter turnout will be low, it is not surprising but it cannot be said it will affect or benefit any particular party, because, if the turnout is low, across the constituencies it will be low, a senior BJP functionary said.
A senior Congress office-bearer too said the voter turnout was expected to be low according to the party's internal analysis.
However, he said, despite low voter turnout, it would be advantage Congress as most of those who will come to vote this time will be those who want to defeat the disqualified.
"The voice and sentiments are against the disqualified, so it will benefit us," he claimed.
He also said there were chances of core BJP supporters 'displeased' with tickets being given to outsiders (the disqualified MLAs) staying away from mobilising voters and this would also help the Congress.
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has urged the voters to come out and vote in large numbers as it was their right.
Only if there is 80-85 per cent voter turnout it will give a meaning to democratic system. As there is holiday in 15 constituencies going for polls, I request the electorate to come out and vote, he said.
The Election Commission and police have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the bypolls in all the 15 constituencies.
According to election officials, a total of 37,77,970 electors, including 18,42,027 women, are eligible to cast their votes at 4,185 polling stations in the bypolls. There are also 4,711 service voters.
Out of total 42,509 personnel deployed for election management, 19,299 are polling personnel. As many as 11,241 personnel from state police and 2,511 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would be on security duty.
Polling officials said 884 polling stations have been marked critical and 414 stations will be manned by CAPF. The bypolls were earlier slated for October 21, but the EC had deferred them to December 5 after the apex court decided to hear the petitions of the disqualified MLAs.
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Last Updated : Dec 5, 2019, 7:29 PM IST