Karnataka by-election: Litmus test for the JDS-Congress alliance in today's poll on 3 Lok Sabha and 2 Assembly seats

Karnataka is undergoing a crucial by-polls today wherein voting is taking place on 3 Lok Sabha seats and 2 Assembly seats. The results of all the five seats will be declared on November 6.

Voting for the 5 seats began at 7 am today and the voting percentage until 9 am was as follows: in the Parliamentary constituencies Bellary 4.40%, Shimoga 8.61% and Mandya 4.18%. Legislative assembly constituencies Jamkhandi 9% and Ramnagar 8%.

The by-elections became necessary after former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, Sriramalu and C S Puttaraju resigned as the member of parliament. A total of 31 candidates are in fray for the five constituencies. Current CM HD Kumaraswamy’s wife Anita Kumaraswamy is contesting from Ramanagara.

The election is a tough contest between the Congress-JDS alliance and the BJP, which had secured 104 seats in the Assembly polls, becoming the single largest party of the state. The JDS-Congress alliance has also been in a limbo for a couple of days and the stiffness among the leaders of the Congress and the Janta Dal Secular came in forefront, when senior leader Shivkumar was again infighting a tussle for his powers and the ticket distribution.

In the alliance of the Congress and JDS, the Congress is contesting from Jamkhandi and Bellari whereas the JDS is fighting the polls from Shivamogga, Ramanagara and Mandya.

The eastern Karnataka region has been the stronghold of the ruling Kumaraswamy’s party and the nail biting finish in the Hubbali and surrounding constituencies during the Assembly polls was a match to watch.

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