Counting underway for bypolls in Karnataka

The counting is underway for bypolls to 15 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka. BJP is leading in seven constituencies, Congress in two and JD(S) in one seat. The results of the by-elections are crucial for the four-month-old BJP government in the southern state, as the ruling party requires at least six seats in the 223-member Assembly for a simple majority. An Independent MLA is already supporting the Yeddyurappa government. At present, BJP has 105 MLAs, Congress 66 and JD-S 34 members in the



assembly.  

Around 67.9 per cent polling was recorded in Thursday's bypolls. Byelection was necessitated following the resignation of 14 Congress and three JD-S MLAs. Bypolls in two seats - Muski in Raichur district and RR Nagar in Bengaluru southwest were not held due to a litigation in the Karnataka High Court on their results in the May 2018 Assembly elections. The BJP and the opposition Congress contested all 15 seats, while JD-S fielded its candidates for 12 seats.