Karnataka’s Bypolls To Re-Elect Legislators On Two Seats To Be Held On Nov 3

The death of Sira MLA B Satyanarayana, who was from the JD(S) and resignation of Rajarajeshwari Nagar Congress MLA Munirathna from the assembly last year, led to the bye-elections.

New Delhi: The bypolls to two assembly constituencies in Karnataka’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru Urban district and Sira in Tumakuru district will be held on Tuesday. Voting will begin from 7 am to 6 pm in the two constituencies with a voting population of 6,78,012 including 3,26,114 women.

The death of Sira MLA B Satyanarayana, who was from the JD(S) and resignation of Rajarajeshwari Nagar Congress MLA Munirathna from the assembly last year, led to the by-elections.

In RR Nagar, the BJP has fielded former Congress MLA Munirathna as its candidate whereas the Congress has given ticket to H Kusuma, wife of former IAS officer late D K Ravi in the seat traditionally held by the party. Meanwhile, the JD(S) has chosen V Krishnamurthy for the seat.

In Sira, the BJP, Congress and JD(S) have fielded radiologist Dr Rakesh Gowda, former minister T B Jayachandra and former (JD-S) MLA B Satyanarayana’s wife Ammajamma respectively.

There are a total 31 candidates in the fray in the bypolls — 15 in Sira and 16 in RR Nagar including those from the Congress, BJP and the JD(S).

According to reports, the RR Nagar seat become a prestigious issue for both the Congress and the BJP. This constituency is part of the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency which is represented by D K Suresh, who is the brother of Congress state chief D K Shivakumar.

Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said, “There will be 1,008 polling stations, comprising 678 in RR Nagar and 330 in Sira.”

In view of the pandemic, thermal screening will be done at the voting centres and hand sanitisers will also be available.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad, who is also the returning officer of the bye-election at RR Nagar, separate arrangements have been made for COVID-19 infected people to cast their votes in the evening.

In the 224-seat Karnataka assembly, BJP has 116 MLAs minus the Speaker, Congress 67 and JD(S) 33, BSP 1 and there are two independents. There is also a nominated member and four seats are vacant, of which elections to R R Nagar and Sira, will take place on Tuesday.

The counting of votes will take place on November 10.

(With PTI inputs)