Karnataka Bypolls Live: Saffron reign to continue, exit polls predict

The crucial byelections to 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka will determine the fate of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government today amid concerns of political parties of a possible low voter turn out. The seats fell vacant after 17 Congress-JD(S) alliance MLAs defected and were disqualified. The exit polls based on the data collected till 4 pm say that BJP has a chance to win a majority of the seats in this bypoll. Will the 4-month-old saffron rule stand or fall?Stay tuned to DH for Live updates.

BTV's exit polls say thatBJP will secure9 seats, Congress 3, JDS 2 seats and one seat in the account of the independents.

Based on the data collected until 4pm today, exit polls have assessed the following results:

As per Public TV's predictions, BJP is expected to secure 8-10 seats. On the other hand,Congress and JD(S)may win 3-5 seats and 1-2 seats respectively and Independent candidates are pegged to win 0-1 seats, according to the TV news agency.

According to Digvijaya News 24x7, the BJP is likely to win 9-11 seats. Digvijaya has also said that 2-4 seats for the Congress and 0-2 for the JDS.

Meanwhile,Power TV says that theBJP may win8-12 seats, while the Congress may win3-6 seats. The JD(S) and independents will win only 0-2 and 0-1 seats respectively, Power Tv says.

Based on the poll data collected till 4 pm, the exit polls were predicted by various news agencies.

C-Voter exit pollspredict thatthe BJP may win 12 out of the 15 seats and Congress only three seats. The JD(S) is pegged to win no seats, they predicted.

Gokak assembly constituency recorded approximate 73.08% polling

Approximate 74.72% polling was recorded for the bye-election for three assembly constituencies Athani, Kagwad and Gokak in the district on Thursday.
Gokak assembly constituency recorded approximate 73.08% polling, Athani assembly constituency recorded approximate 75.23% polling and Kagwad assembly constituency recorded approximate 76.27% polling.

Kagwad assembly constituency recorded approximate 75.91% polling at 6 pm

Kagwad assembly constituency recorded approximate 75.91% polling at 6 pm with 1,41,332 voters exercising their franchise. Athani Assembly constituency recorded approximately 75.23% polling at 6 pm, with 1,65,370 voters exercising their franchise.

Three assembly constituencies Athani, Kagwad and Gokak in the district recorded 68.92% polling at 5 pm with 4,48,182 voters exercising their franchise.
Athani recorded 70.73% with 1,55,492 voters casting votes, Kagwad recorded 69.76% votes with 1,29,880 voters casting votes and Gokak recorded 66.64% with 1,62,810 voters casting votes.

A bridegroom casts his vote before his wedding at Chowdenahall in K R Pet taluk, on Thursday.

Congress leader and Yamakanamaradi MLA Satish Jarkiholi cast his vote at polling station

Congress leader and Yamakanamaradi MLA Satish Jarkiholi cast his vote at polling station No 163 from Gokak assembly constituency located in the premises of Government High School at Laxmi Layout in Gokak town in Belagavi district on Thursday.

K R Pet in Mandya district records a voter turnout of 59.86% up to 3 pm

Villagers gathered at Hosa Ramenahalli, in Hunsur, Mysuru

Tension prevailed at Hosa Ramenahalli after a Police Inspector asked MLA C Anil and his supporters to move away from the polling centre, here.

Anil was returning after casting vote and an on-duty Police Inspector Sunil asked to move away. Though Anil left the place, his supporters returned and demanded the police to apologise to the MLA.
The villagers accused the Police of insulting the MLA.

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Polling in Belagavi district increased to 53.69% at 3 pm

Polling in Belagavi district increased to 53.69% at 3 pm with 3,49,156 voters exercising their franchise. Athani recorded 53.69% with 1,24,369 votes being cast, Kagwad 51.41% with 95,716 votes being cast and Gokak 53.30% with 1,30,220 votes being cast.

Bhavani Nagar, Annapoorneshwari Nagar and surrounding areas which were affected by Doddabidarakallu lake breach just two months ago records 39% of voter turn out. Of total 3,446 total voters in the area, three booths in Channa Nayakana Palya Higher Primary School polling station witness just 1,354 votes.

However, suspiciously cops, booth residing officers and locals deny entry for Deccan herald. Cops screamed at Deccan Herald photographer when questioned the denial of entry. Local party workers insist police not to allow entry for media.

An activist holding a banner reading 'Save Democracy', with Justice Santosh Hegde's photo captioned - 'K R Puram people will do it'. The activist was beaten by police in KR Puram.

The incident was brought to the notice of Whitefield DCP MN Anucheth and he assured that he will look into the incident.

95-year-old Parvathamma, the resident from Venugopala Nagar in Doddabidarakallu was saddened as her name was deleted from the voter list.

Voters turnout from 7 am to 1 pm in K R Pet 39.47%

Voters turnout from 7 a.m to 1 pm in K R Pet 39.47%. People standing in queue for cast vote at KR Puram bye-electionat Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra Ramamurthy Nagara.

Polling increased as day progressed in Belagavi district

Polling increased as day progressed in Belagavi district. At 1 pm Athani recorded 40.89% with 89886 votes being cast, Kagwad 37.72% with 70227 votes being cast and Gokak 37.37% with 91298 votes being cast

Voting picks pace in Yeshwantpur

Voting picks pace in Yeshwantpur. Yeswhantpur constituency that was just 13.13% till 11am has managed to record 27.29% of voting turnout at 1pm with 1,31252 votes of 4,80953 total registered voters in the constituency. On the other hand Mahalakshmi Layout that had highest percentage of voting with 15.71% could just jump to 22.71% of voting with 64,921 votes of 2,85,869 total registered voters in the constituency till 1pm.

BJP poised to win all seats, says Savadi

Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi said that the BJP was poised to win all the 15 assembly constituencies wherein bye-elections are being held with people wanting Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to be at the helm of the affairs of the state.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday after casting his vote at polling station at Naganur village in Athani taluk coming under Athani assembly constituency, Savadi said, the BJP government has been doing pro-people work and people want Yediyurappa to continue as chief minister, hence they will vote in favour of BJP candidates in all the 15 assembly constituencies wherein bye-election are being held.

Read the full report here.

BJP candidate from Kagwad Assembly constituency Srimant Patil casts his vote at polling booth No 88 at Kempwad village in Kagwad taluk in Belagavi district on Thursday.

Voters waiting to cast vote for bye-election at a polling station at Konnur town in Gokak taluk in Belagavi district on Thursday. (DH Photo/Raju Gavali)

Polling at booth No 59 at Konnur in Gokak taluk in Belagavi district coming under Gokak assembly constituency was stopped due to technical snag. Officials are working to resolve the snag.

The villagers are staging protest against Police officials at Ramenahalli as a Police Inspector allegedly insult H D Kote MLA C Anil. The MLA visited the village to cast his vote for Hunsur Assembly bypolls. According to the protestors, a police Inspector stopped the MLA and insulted him by calling in singular. The villagers blocked Hassan-Mysuru road and demand the police to apologise.

JD(S) candidate from Gokak assembly constituency Ashok Pujari and his wife showing their inked fingers after casting vote at a polling station at Gokak in Belagavi district on Thursday. (DH photo/Raju Gavali)

Physically disabled voter being helped as people with disabilities polling booth at Ainapur in Kagwad taluk coming under Kagwad assembly constituency. (DH photo/Raju Gavali)

Following technical glitches, a EVM was replaced at polling station 136 at Hunsur town.

Poor voter turn out in Mahalakshmi Layout and Yeshwantpur constituencies till 11am. Mahalakshmi Layout records 44,910 votes of total 2,85,869 electors, marking a voter turnout of just 15.71%. Yeshwantpur constituency records just 63,145 votes of total 4,80,953 registered voters marking a voter turnout of 13.13% till 11 am.

At 23.87%, the Yellapur constituency has seen the highest voter turnout so far, followed by Athani at 23.1% and Hoskote at 22.39%. Among the four Bengaluru constituencies, Mahalakshmi Layout has the highest turnout with 15.71% voters exercising their franchise. Yeshwanthpur saw a 13.13% turnout, followed by KR Puram at 10.97% and Shivajinagar with the lowest at 9.2%. The total average turnout as on 11 am is 17.60%.

Padma M, a voter from Vrushabhavathi Nagar takes selfie after casting her vote to send the inked finger picture to her office to justify her half-day leave. She says, "This is really sad that we have to keep coming for voting for someone's fault. I work in Malleshwaram. Since there is no election my office area is open and I have to prove them that I was actually on half-day leave for casting vote. Thus taking selfie was important." (DH Photo/Pushkar V)

Athani reported 23.10% polling, Kagwad 21.34% and Gokak 20.45% until 11 am. Over 50,700 voters in Athani, 39,742 in Kagwad and 49,966 in Gokak voters exercised their rights.

There was confusion at two booths in the morning at K R Puram's Singayyanapalya after the voting machine stopped working for about 10 minutes.

Hunsur: 19.12 % votes polled in Hunsur segment until 11 am

Male: 24,770Female:18,814Others:1Total:43,585

Gokak assembly constituency recorded 20.45% polling until 11 am with 49,966 voters casting vote.

JUST IN | 12% polling recorded in K R Pet constituency till 11 am.

At one of the booths in B Narayanapura in K R Puram, a heated argument took place between Congress and BJP workers. BJP supporters claimed that the Congress agents did not belong to this area andthey had entered booths without documents.

BJP candidate from Gokak assembly constituency Ramesh Jarkiholi casts vote at Gokak town in Belagavi district on Thursday.

Students helping a senior citizen to arrive at the polling station to cast vote for the bye-election at Khangaon village in Gokak taluk in Belagavi district coming under Gokak assembly constituency. (DH Photo: Raju Gavali)

Voters displaying their identity documents at Gokak

Voters displaying identity documents at polling station at Suldhal in Gokak taluk coming under Gokak assembly constituency.

98 year old Rathnabhai casts her vote

98 year old Rathnabhai casts her vote at Marappana Palya polling booth. She says, "I have been casting my vote since 70 years. I don't feel good to keep voting even before the election term getting over. But it's also important to do my duty."

AH Vishwanath and HP Manjunath come face to face at Sri Saibaba Mandir in Hunsur

Hunsur, BJP Candidate A H Vishwanath and Congress candidate H P Manjunath came face to face at Sri Saibaba Mandir in Hunsur.

EVM changed at Athani due to technical snag

EVMchanged at polling booth No 3 at Athani located at Tangdi polling station due to technical snag

142 votes have been casted of 1555 registered voters in Mahalakshmi Layout constituency

142 votes have been casted of 1555 registered voters in Higher primary School of Marappana Palya of Mahalakshmi Layout constituency since 7am.

Senior citizens being helped to vote in Athani

Near KR Puram, people are displaying banners urging voters to punish disqualified MLAs. (DH Photo/Niranjan K)

The Hoskote constituency is leading with a voter turnout of 9% so far, the highest among the 15 constituencies where polling is underway. (DH photo/Bharath Joshi)

Bengaluru’s Shivajinagar is the lowest with a voter turnout of 3.04%.The average turnout at 9 am is 6.06% across all 15 constituencies.

Until 9 am, Athani recorded 8.33% polling, Kagwad 6.94% and Gokak 6.11%.

Voters display banners saying ‘Save Democracy and KR Puram people will do it’ near the Government First Grade College of KR Puram. (DH Photo/Niranjan K)

People queue up at Sakhi Polling booth, which is manned entirely by women officials, at Kikkeri, under KR Pet Assembly constituency. (DH Photo/Sathish Kumar)

JUST IN | 6.20% voter turnout recorded in K R Pet until 9 am.

Bypolls: Offices, schools, colleges closed on Dec 5

The state government has declared a holiday to all government offices, schools and colleges on December 5 in view of the bypolls to the 15 Assembly constituencies. The holiday will be applicable only in the constituencies going for bypolls. However, Vidhana Soudha, Vikas Soudha and offices in MS Building would function as usual, according to a notification. Employees who are registered as voters in any of the poll-bound constituencies can avail of paid leave on December 5.

Read the full report here.

BJP candidate Narayana Gowda at the polling centre in K R Pet. (DH Photo)

Congress candidate K B Chandrasekhar after voting in K R Pet. (DH Photo: Gayathri V Raj)

Voting was delayed by 40 minutes at Bandihole village in K R Pet, due to technical problem. It has resumed now.

People starts queuing up at polling booths at K R Pet segment in Mandya district. (DH Photo: Gayathri V Raj)

People start queuing up at polling booths at K R Pet segment in Mandya district. All the three candidates of major political parties Narayana Gowda of BJP, K B Chandrasekhar and B L Devaraj of JD(S) cast their votes at their respective polling booths.

In Hunsur, as many as 96 voters, 55 men and 41 women, cast vote at the sensitive Manuganahalli polling station.

BJP candidate from Gokak Ramesh Jarkiholi casts vote

BJP candidate from Gokak Ramesh Jarkiholi casts vote in a polling booth at Gokak. He expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the bypolls.

"Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi will require treatment after results. Had not expected sibling Lakhan Jarkiholi will deceive," he says. Ramesh also says that KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao was not fit to get elected for Gram Panchayat.

A H Vishwanath heads towards polling center to cast vote in Hunsur. (DH photo: Ranjith Kandya)

Voters queue up at a polling booth at Bukanakere, the native of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, in KR Pet Assembly constituency, Mandya district, to cast their votes. (DH photo: Sathish Kumar)

Polling is taking place at a slow pace in all three assembly constituencies -- Athani, Kagwad and Gokak -- in Belagavi district. It is expected to pick up as the day progresses.

Bypolls for Hunsur Assembly segment has commenced too. BJP candidate A H Vishwanath offered puja at a temple in the town. He will cast vote at Junior High School.

Congress candidate from Athani Gajanan Mangsuli casts vote in a polling booth at Athani.

CM BSY may go for cabinet expansion post bypolls: Dy CM

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa may go for cabinet expansion after the December 5 bypolls to 15 assembly segments, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi said on Wednesday. The cabinet expansion will be done after securing approval from the party's national leadership, he told reporters at Athani.

"After considering pros and cons, the Chief Minister will decide on whom to be inducted, he (Chief Minister) is thinking about it. He would also seek advice from the high command," Savadi said.

Read the full report here.

Stop calling me Dalit, says angry Mallikarjun Kharge

Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday lost his cool when he was asked about his chief ministerial prospects, especially in the context of him being Dalit.

“Why do you keep saying Dalit again and again? Don’t say that. I’m a Congressman,” Kharge snapped when reporters asked him about speculation revolving around his recent statement that he will deliver “good news” on December 9, when the bypoll results will be out.

Read the full report here.

Even before results, BJP discusses Cabinet rejig

Ahead of the crucial bypolls, there is talk within the BJP circles that a Cabinet reshuffle will be imminent after December 9, when the results will be out.

This also shows that the BJP is already planning its moves with the conviction that it will win enough seats to remain in power.

Over a dozen berths have been kept vacant to accommodate the disqualified legislators who are contesting the bypolls on the BJP ticket. Incumbent ministers with multiple portfolios are expected to lose some of them during the reshuffle.

Read the full report here.

Congress candidate from Kagwad Bharamgouda alias Raju Kage casts his vote at a polling station at Ugarkhurd. Kage shifted to the Congress after the BJP denied him candidature.

Karnataka bypolls' outcome key in deciding BJP's fate

The crucial byelections to 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka that will determine the fate of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa led BJP government will be held on Thursday amid concerns of political parties of a possible low voter turn out.

Polling will be held between 7 am to 6 pm on Thursday in the 15 constituencies where a total of 37.78 lakh electors are eligible to cast their votes and all arrangements have been made for the exercise, officials said.

Read the full report here.

BJP candidate Mahesh Kumathalli in Athani prays in temple after casting vote.

K R Pet voters to seal fate of 7 candidates

The countdown began for the high-voltage byelection in K R Pet Assembly constituency, Mandya district, that will be held from 7 am to 6 pm, in 258 polling booths, on Thursday. The byelection was necessitated as JD(S) MLA Narayana Gowda, elected in 2018, resigned this August.

In all, 2,08,254 voters, including 1,05,678 men and 1,02,571 women and five others will exercise their franchise. There are 89 service voters.

Read the full report here.

BJP candidate Mahesh Kumathalli is among the early votersin Athani. Kumathalli and family members cast vote at booth No 99 after technical snag solved.

Polling is delayed in booth No. 99 in Athani constituency due to a technical snag.

Belagavi: Polling for 3 Assembly seats begins

Polling for bypolls for three assembly constituencies Athani, Kagwad and Gokak in the district commenced at 7 am on Thursday. A total of 28 candidates that includes eight in Athani, nine in Kagwad and 11 in Gokak are in the fray.

Prior to the beginning of polling, election officials conducted mock polling in the presence of agents of candidates.

Read the full report here.

Voting for bypoll to Shivaji Nagar constituency is underway at Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Girls High School and PU College, Tasker Town. (Photo: ANI)

In the assembly with the current strength of 208 after the disqualifications, the BJP has 105 MLAs (including an independent), the Congress 66 and the JD(S) has 34 MLAs. There is also one BSP member, a nominated member, and the Speaker. Thirteen of the disqualified MLAs have been fielded by the BJP after they joined the party last month following the Supreme Court allowing them to contest the bypolls.

Voting for Karnataka Byelection begins. Fifteen assembly seats of the state are undergoing by-poll today after they fell vacant due to disqualification of 17 Congress and JD(S) rebel MLAs.

Congress has urged all voter in constituencies where the byeelection is taking place to come out and vote today to save democracy.

These bypolls are crucial as the BJP needs to win at least six of the seats to remain in the majority in the 225-member assembly (including the Speaker, who has a casting vote), which would still have two vacant seats -- Maski and R R Nagar.

Bypolls: Holiday for HC today

A general holiday has been declared to the principal bench of the Karnataka High Court on December 5, on account of byelections to be held under the jurisdiction of Sampangiramanagar ward, which comes under the Shivajinagar constituency. Holiday has also been declared to the City Civil Courts, except Mayo Hall courts and courts, housed in Nyayadegula Complex, the registrar general of the Karnataka High Court said in a press release issued on Wednesday.

Polling will be held between 7 am to 6 pm on Thursday in the 15 constituencies where a total of 37.78 lakh electors are eligible to cast their votes.

The crucial byelections to 15 assembly constituencies in Karnatakawill determine the fate of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government today amid concerns of political parties of a possible low voter turn out.

Yesterday, officials deployed by the Election Commission to enforce the model code of conduct ahead of bypolls, have seized cash adding up to Rs 5.69 crore, sarees and blouses worth Rs 30.83 lakh, being transported in an unauthorised manner.

Even as the campaign ended on Tuesday, the static surveillance teams and the flying squads found cash being transported unauthorisedly on Wednesday.

Bypolls: Parties bank on turnout

The ruling BJP is banking on a good voter turnout in the byelections scheduled for Thursday to improve its prospects of winning as many seats as it can in the 15 constituencies.

The Opposition Congress, too, is figuring out how the voter turnout will affect its victory or defeat across the constituencies.

Read the full report here.

Hello readers and welcome to our live coverage of bypolls to 15 Karnataka constituencies, whichfell vacant after 17 Congress-JD(S) alliance MLAs defected and were disqualified. Stay tuned for live coverage of developments in these seats as polling takes place.

Tight security measures in place for Karnataka bypolls

BengaluruPolice have made elaborate security arrangements inthe city. KR Puram, Yeshwantpur, Mahalakshmi Layout and Shivajinagar constituencies are going to bypolls on the day.

Security responsibilities have been assigned to the respective deputy commissioners of police while the additional commissioners of police will supervise the security arrangements, police commissioner Bhaskar Rao said.

Read the full report here.

The state government has declared a holiday to all government offices, schools and colleges on December 5 in view of the bypolls to the 15 Assembly constituencies. The holiday will be applicable only in the constituencies going for bypolls. However, Vidhana Soudha, Vikas Soudha and offices in MS Building would function as usual, according to a notification. Employees who are registered as voters in any of the poll-bound constituencies can avail of paid leave on December 5.

The copsallowed party workers inside the polling stations who had no ID cards from the EC. The part workersstarted picking a tiff with cops support. Interestingly, the local party workers who were inside the polling station tried to give Deccan Heraldthe poll statistics, but not the polling officers.
DH was not allowed to take pictures/videos despite showing our IDs givenfrom EC.

The bypolls are crucial for the ruling BJP as theyneed to win at least six of the 15 seats to retain its majority in the 224-member House. The election results will be out on December 9.