Image Courtesy: Indian Express
Image Courtesy: Indian Express
The constituencies that went to polls are Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagar, Chikballapur, KR Puram, Yeshwanthpur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Hoskote, KR Pet and Hunsur. This covers over 37 lakh eligible electors including over 18 lakh women voters.
Bye elections were necessitated in wake of a rebellion by 17 Congress and JD(S) legislators in mid-July when they resigned to protest the then government’s functioning leading to their disqualification.
These bye elections are extremely important for the BJP that already danced a rather complicated tango with the democratic process when assemble elections were held in the state. From resort politics to horse-trading to allegations of misusing the state police to intimidate rivals, the BJP left no stone unturned in their bid to grab and hold on to power in Karnataka.
While the Congress and BJP are fielding candidates from all 15 seats, the JD(S) is contesting 12 seats. Speculation is rife that the Congress and JD(S) could join hands to keep the BJP out. There is already resentment among BJP supporters as tickets were given to the disqualified rebel candidates who are perceived as outsiders. The BJP needs to win at least six seats to maintain its majority in the 225-member assembly where after the disqualification the tally stands as follows:
BJP 105 (including one independent)
Congress 66
JD(S) 34
BSP 1
Nominated 1
Speaker
Total 208
Polling that was initially scheduled for October 21, was finally conducted on December 5, 2019. Over 10,000 state police personnel were deployed along with over 2500 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel. Out of the total 4,185 polling stations, 884 have been marked critical. (Source – Deccan Herald)
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