High to moderate polling in high-stakes Karnataka bypolls

BENGALURU: Despite the high-decibel campaign, polling for byelections to three Lok Sabha (LS) and two assembly seats recorded high to moderate turnout on Saturday.

While Ballari LS constituency recorded 63.85% turnout, Shivamogga LS saw 61.05% and Mandya LS saw just 53.54%. The assembly seats of Ramanagara and Jamakhandi clocked 81.58% and 73.71% respectively - a high voting percentage compared to the Lok Sabha seats.

"Polling was peaceful, with less than 2% reports of problems in electronic voting machines (EVMs) from some polling stations, where the machines were immediately repaired or replaced," said chief electoral officer Sanjiv Kumar. As many as 54lakh people were eligible to vote at 6,450 polling stations in the state. In all, 31 candidates were in the fray.

Stakes are high for the ruling JD(S)-Congress, as the arch rivals reached an electoral understanding for the first time after forming the government, and if approved by the voters, can change the state's political scenario. "Favourable results will not only ensure the longevity of the coalition government but also provide a template and confidence to fight the 2019 elections against the BJP," said a senior JD(S) leader.

The BJP is also hoping to do well, especially in Shivamogga, Ballari and Jamakhandi, as it will provide the much needed boost to prepare for general elections.

It will also give verve to their strategy to destabilize the coalition government, as they have already predicted that it will fall after the bypoll results are out.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has called the bypolls a semi-final for the coalition, before the parliamentary polls next year, while deputy CM G Parameshwara has dubbed it an "indicator."

"If the Congress-JD(S) alliance wins all five seats, it will send an indication to the whole country and pave the way for the Mahagathbandhan," former prime minister and JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda has said.

After casting his vote on Saturday, Yeddyurappa told reporters in Shikaripura that he was 100% confident that his son B Y Raghavendra would win from Shivamogga. He also claimed that the BJP would get an absolute majority in all five constituencies.

Counting of votes will be held on November 6.