Average 58 to 60 per cent polling reported in Karnataka by-elections

Bengaluru, Nov 3: Polling in the by-elections to three Lok Sabha and two Assmbly reported mixed response from voters as only an average 60 per cent votting was reported in three LS segments while in the two Assembly seats it was little higher at 75 per cent.

The figures reflected on voter apathy in Lok Sabha segments as Shivamogga recorded 61.05 per cent voting, Bellary 63.85 per cent and Mandya the lowest at 53.93 per cent.

Pollilng in Assembly segments was better with Jamkhandi reporting highest polling rate at 81.58 per cent while in Ramanagara it was 73.71 per cent.

The voting pattern reflected on disinterest among voters in Lok Sabha segments as the tenure of the current house is less than six months.

By and large voting process passed off peacefully and no untoward incidents were reported from any of the five segments.

Polling began on a sedate note and witnessed more voters turn up at the polling in three Lok Sabha and two Assembly segments in Karnataka for which a by-election was being held on Saturday.

Voter apathy was evident in all the five segments as less than 10 per cent polling booths only in the afternoon, reports reaching here said.

Congress-Janata Dal (S) and BJP are in a straight contest in the by-poll. The first two parties, coalition partners in the current state government had decided to jointly fight against BJP.

The by-poll is considered as litmus test to Congress and Janata Dal (S) after the two parties joined together to form the coalition government in Karnataka which had witnessed a hung Assembly in the last election. It is also important for BJP in view of the Lok Sabha election to be held early next year.

Bypoll is being held in Shivamogga, Mandya and Ballari Lok Sabha segments while Assembly by-election is being held in Ramanagara and Jamkhandi seats. While JD(S) has pitted its candidates in Mandya, Ramanagara and Shivamogga, Congress is fighting against BJP in Ballari and Jamakhandi.

Bypoll was necessitated in Ramanagara as Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had contested in two seats -- Channapatna and Ramanagara in the Assembly poll and won from both segments. He opted to retain Channapatna and quit Ramanagara seat. By-poll in Jamkhandi was necessitated due to death of sitting member and former Union Minister Siddu Nyamagouda who was killed in a road accident.