Bengaluru: It is going to be a litmus test for the Congress-JD(S) Coalition government in Karnataka as three Lok Sabha and two assembly seats in Karnataka go for by-polls today. While, the JD(S) is contesting the Mandya and Shivamogga Lok Sabha seats and the Ramanagara assembly constituency, the Congress has been vying for the Ballari Lok Sabha seat and Jamkhandi assembly seat.
As per latest report, six per cent turnout was recorded in the first three hours of voting. Bypolls to Shivamogga, Mandya, and Ramanagara Lok Sabha seats, and Ballari and Jamkhandi assembly segments began at 7 am on Saturday and will go on till 6 pm.
The by-elections were necessitated after Yeddyurappa (Shivamogga) and Sriramalu (Ballari), and C S Puttaraju of the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) resigned as MPs on their election to the assembly in May this year.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s wife, Anita Kumaraswamy, is contesting from Ramanagara and is expected to have a smooth sail after BJP nominee L Chandrashekhar rejoined Congress in the last minute.
There are a total 31 candidates contesting the elections in the five constituencies. A total of 54,54,275 voters are eligible to cast their votes at about 6,450 polling stations. Counting of votes will be on Tuesday.
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Ms Kalinga