Chincholi, Kundagol bypolls notified

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (OCEO), Karnataka issued a notification on Monday for the crucial byelections to two Assembly seats – Chincholi (SC reserved) in Kalaburagi and Kundagol in Dharwad districts. The bypoll is scheduled for May 19.

The byelection to Chincholi was necessitated due to the resignation of Dr Umesh Jadhav, who joined the BJP and is now contesting as the party candidate in Gulbarga parliamentary seat. Kundagol seat fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLA C S Shivalli. April 29 is the last day for filing the nomination papers. The bypoll results will be announced on May 23.

The two byelections are crucial for both the Congress-JD(S) combine and the principal Opposition BJP in the state. It will help them shore up their numbers in the Assembly. If the Congress loses the bypolls, the strength of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government will come down, and it could have a bearing on the stability of the government.

Both the national parties are expected to announce their candidates by this weekend.