Bengaluru, Nov 13 (UNI) By 11 am, voter participation in Karnataka’s byelections across the Channapatna, Shiggaon, and Sandur Assembly segments reached an encouraging 26.33%.
Channapatna reported the highest turnout at 27.02%, followed by Shiggaon at 26.01% and Sandur at 25.96%. At 9 am, the initial turnout was 10.14%, with Channapatna at 10.34%, Shiggaon at 10.08%, and Sandur at 9.99%.
Polling began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm at 770 polling stations in these constituencies, with the results expected on November 23.
Despite mobility challenges, many senior citizens arrived at polling stations in wheelchairs, highlighting their commitment to voting.
These byelections were necessitated by the recent ascension of JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, former CM Basavaraj Bommai, and Congress’s E Tukaram to union ministerial roles, leaving their seats vacant.
A total of 45 candidates are now competing, with over seven lakh eligible voters in these segments.
In Channapatna, JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy faces Congress’s five-time MLA CP Yogeshwar.
In Shiggaon, BJP’s Bharath Bommai is pitted against Congress candidate Yasir Ahmed Khan, while Sandur sees Congress’s E Annapurna challenging BJP's Bangaru Hanumanthu.
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