Karnataka MLC polls: Recounting to take place on Feb 28

Chikkamagaluru: The recounting of the votes for the Legislative Council election held three years ago is scheduled to take place on February 28.

Preparations for the recount are being made at the IDSG College in Chikkamagaluru town, and the Deputy Commissioner who is also District Election Officer has issued notices to all the candidates.

The candidates who contested the election include AV Gayathri Shantegowda from the Congress, MK Pranesh from the BJP, Dr K Sundaragowda from the Aam Aadmi Party, and independent candidates BT Chandrashekar and GI Renukumar.

The recount will be conducted in the presence of these candidates.

The district administration had been waiting for guidelines from the Election Commission regarding the procedure for the recount.

On Friday, the commission issued instructions, and the date for the recount was finalised, according to Deputy Commissioner Meena Nagaraj.

The election for the Legislative Council from local bodies was held on December 10, 2021, and the counting was held on December 14, 2021.

BJP’s MK Pranesh, who is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, secured 1,188 votes, while Congress candidate AV Gayathri Shantegowda received 1,182 votes. Pranesh won the election by a margin of six votes.

A total of 12 nominated members from the town panchayats of Sringeri, Koppa, NR Pura, and Mudigere had exercised their franchise. However, Gayathri Shantegowda approached the court, arguing that these members were not eligible to vote.

The Supreme Court has directed that the vote recount be conducted and the report submitted by March 7. The final report will be submitted to the Court in a sealed envelope.