Polling underway for biennial elections to 25 seats of Karnataka Legislative Council

Bengaluru: Polling has begun for biennial elections to 25 seats of Karnataka Legislative Council. The polling which began at 8 am, will conclude at 4 pm. Voting is taking place for 20 Local Body Authorities constituencies. 90 candidates are in the fray. BJP and Congress are contesting 20 seats each, while JD(S) has fielded its candidates in six constituencies. 33 Independent candidates are also in the fray. 

Polling booths are provided with ramps, wheelchairs, drinking water, shade, magnifying glass, sign language interpreters, volunteers, and transport facilities for people with disabilities. The counting of votes will be taken up on the 14th of this month.

The candidates will be elected from ‘Local Authorities Constituencies’, which means



that the voters will be MLAs, MPs, gram panchayat members, and other elected representatives. This time, Zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat members will be missing from the list as the government is yet to hold elections for these bodies. 

Of the 25 MLCs, who are set to complete their term, on account of which the elections are being held, 14 are from Congress, seven BJP, and four JD(S). Currently, the ruling BJP, holds 32 seats in the 75-member house, while the Congress has 29 seats and JD(S) has 12 seats. 

The BJP is currently dependent on the JDS to push legislation through the Council and is keen to wrest total control of the upper house to pass new laws that are in the pipeline.