The bypolls for 15 assembly segments are being held following the disqualification of the MLAs from the Congress and the JD(S) which led to the collapse of the coalition government.
Voting for bypolls in 15 assembly seats in Karnataka was held today amid tight security arrangements. The polling is under keen attention as it will likely decide the future of the BS Yediyurappa government in the state. The counting of votes will be held on December 9.
The bypolls for 15 assembly segments are being held following the disqualification of the MLAs from the Congress and the JD(S) which led to the collapse of the coalition government.
The 15 constituencies that have gone to the bypolls are Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagar, Chikballapur, KR Puram, Yeshwanthpur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Hoskote, KR Pet and Hunsur.
There will still be two vacant seats - Maski and R R Nagar - after the bypolls to these seats - as the petitions against these Assembly constituencies are pending in the Karnataka High Court.
Karnataka Bypolls Updates:
19:30 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
Voting ends. 63.66% voter turnout recorded.
17:30 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
As of 5 PM, 60% of voters exercised their right to vote for Karnataka by-elections.
16:50 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
15:36 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
49% voter turnout recorded till 3 PM in 15 assembly segments: EC
13:36 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
Karnataka: Latest voter-turnout figures for the 15 assembly constituencies in the state, that are up for by-polls.
12:39 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
Nearly 17.06% voter turnout has been recorded in Karnataka assembly by-election till 11 am, according to the EC.
10:37 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
Nearly 6.33% voter turnout has been recorded in Karnataka assembly by-election till 9 am, according to the EC.
08:08 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
BJP candidate from Ranebennur Assembly constituency, Arun Kumar Guttur casts his vote at a polling station at Kodiyala Hospet in Ranebennur.
07:42 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
People queue up at a polling station in Hoskote, to cast their votes.
07:34 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
Voting for by-election to Shivaji Nagar Constituency, underway at BBMP PU College and High School, Tasker Town.
07:33 IST Wednesday, 5 November 2019
Voting for Karnataka by-election begins
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The bypolls were necessitated after the 17 Congress-JD(S) legislators rebelled against the coalition government, leading to their disqualification by the assembly speaker.
While 13 constituencies were held by the Congress, three MLAs had won on the JD(S) symbol. One MLA had won as an independent candidate but subsequently joined the Congress.
Their rebellion led to the collapse of the HD Kumaraswamy government in July and paved the way for BJP to come to power.
The disqualified MLAs moved the Supreme Court against the then Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar's decision. Their disqualification was upheld by the apex court which allowed them to contest the polls.
Earlier the bypolls were scheduled to be held on October 21 but the Election Commission deferred the voting as the top court was still hearing the matter.
The BJP has fielded as its candidates 13 of the legislators who joined the party after the Supreme Court verdict.
The government has the support of 106 MLAs, including 105 from the BJP and one independent, in the House which currently has the strength of 207 members. After the result of 15 seats, there will be 222 members in the house and the majority mark will reach 111. The BJP needs to win at least six out of 15 seats to maintain its majority in the house.
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