Karnataka by-polls 2024 updates: Overall voter turnout at 76.9% till 5 pm in three Assembly segments

Sandur recorded lowest voter turn-out with 71.47 %, among three assembly seats in Karnataka. Congress party has fielded E Tukaram's wife E Annapurna from this seat, and she will fight BJP’s Bangaru Hanumanthu in Sandur.

Karnataka's Channapatna, which is considered as high profile seat has recorded the voter turnout of 84.26% by 5 pm. JD(S) Nikhil Kumaraswamy is contesting against Congress' CP Yogeshwar in this seat

An estimated 76.9 per cent voters turned out till 5 pm in three Assembly segments of Karnataka where bypolls were held on Wednesday, election officials said.

More than seven lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates were in the fray. (PTI)

The polling has ended at all three constituencies - Channapatna, Sandur and Shiggoan at 6 pm. Large voter turnout is expected as many women and older voters were seen at polling booths on Wednesday.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy and Bharat Bommai, son of another former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai are contesting in this by-election, While Nikhil is in fray from Channapatna, vacated by his father, the Jr. Bommai is contesting from Shiggaon which was vacated by Basavaraj Bommai. Both the candidates are hoping to enter into the assembly for the first time by winning the elections.

The ruling Congress party in Karnataka is facing a heavy crticism from the opposition BJP-JDS in all aspects. The opposition has been alleging CM Siddaramaiah of involving in scams and they demanded his resignation. There are also unconfirmed reports about the grand old party leaders having close doors meetings over the leadership change.

The Channapatna seat has majority of Vokkaliga votes and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar is serious about winning this seat and reclaim his domination in the area. However, Nikhil Kumaraswamy is also aiming to make a debut win in electoral politics from Channapatna, the seat vacated by his father HD Kumaraswamy.

The BJP has been facing growing internal discord, with several leaders voicing discontent. The by-polls are especially significant for state BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra, who views a victory as crucial to quelling dissent within the party. Critics have challenged his leadership, accusing both him and his father, senior leader B. S. Yediyurappa, of engaging in “adjustment politics.”

The saffron party's campaigning efforts have also been coloured by controversy surrounding a report that recommended legal action against former CM Yediyurappa and ex-minister B. Sriramulu for alleged irregularities in Covid-19-related procurement of equipment and medicines.

As polling for three seats in Karnataka is underway, CM Siddaramaiah urged the voters of three constituencies to cast their votes before the polling. He also expressed confidence and said that Congress party's candidates will win all three seats in the state. He further attacked PM Modi and said why he is not speaking about alleged Covid-19 scam in Karnataka.

He said, "All the scams took place during the BJP government. Our government did not do any corruption and will not indulge in such acts. The Prime Minister is lying during his poll campaigns."

The latest voter turnout, according to the Election Commission of India, is as follows:

Shiggaon: 59.62%

Sandur: 58.27%

Channapatna: 67.63%

In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife E Annapurna of Congress is contesting from the seat vacated by her husband, against, BJP ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu.

An estimated 45.02 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1:30 pm in three Assembly segments of Karnataka, where voting for by-polls is underway, election officials said. More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates are in the fray.

Nearly three lakh litres of liquor worth ₹29 crore have been seized from Channapatna Assembly segment, where the by-polling is ongoing along with Shiggaon and Sandur in Karnataka.

Among the three constituencies, the spotlight is on Channapatna, where Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil has crossed swords with Congress heavyweight C P Yogeeshwara in a prestigious battle.

(ANI)

A month-long electrifying campaign came to an end in three assembly seats where polling is underway in Karnataka. The campaigning was marked by personal attacks by political leaders against each other, the MUDA scam charges against CM Siddaramaiah, allegations of corruption in Valmiki Corporation and excise department, and issues around the inquiry report on alleged irregularities in the purchase of equipment and medicines during the Covid-19 recommending prosecution of the BJP Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and former minister B Sriramulu.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy who is contesting elections for the third time is confident of making a debut this time. He said that the youth of Channapatna is with him. “From the last 18 days, people have given me confidence. I am very confident today that the work done by HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy will come in handy for my victory. The youth is with me. I am confident that the people of Channapatna will bless me,” he told while speaking to ANI

The Congress candidate from Channapatna who is fielded against Nikhil Kumaraswamy casted his vote on Wednesday afternoon. Yogeshwar along with his family members were seen at a polling booth in Channapatna and he expressed confidence in winning the seat.

After casting his vote, BJP candidate and son of former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said that he is indebted to the people of Shiggaon.

Speaking to ANI, Bharath said, “Wherever I go, I have been getting a tremendous response from the people. I am indebted to their love and affection.”

Sandur assembly constituency in north Karnataka registered the lowest voter turnout among all three seats where is polling underway by 11 am. While Channapatna and Siggaon registered 27.01% and 26.01% voter turnout by 11am, Sandur only registered 25.96% voter turnout. A total of 26.33% voter turnout was registered across three seats of Karnataka by 11 am.

"There are 241 polling booths here... Drinking water, toilets, benches have been arranged for voters... We have five dedicated Sakhi booths to encourage women voters. Voting is going on smoothly," Haveri CEO Akshay Sridhar said on Wednesday as the Karnataka bypolls were in progress.

(ANI)

As of 11 am, voter turnout in Karnataka’s three Assembly segments showed promising engagement. Channapatna recorded a turnout of 27.02 per cent, followed closely by Shiggaon at 26.01 per cent, and Sandur with 25.96 per cent. The overall voter turnout across these areas stood at 26.33 per cent.

BJP Karnataka President Vijayendra Yediyurappa on Wednesday appealed to the residents of Karnataka to vote in huge numbers as by-election is underway in three assembly seats.
“100% turnout: A boon to development. All the voters of Shiggavi, Sandur and Channapatna assembly constituencies are requested to prove the importance of democracy by exercising their rights compulsorily. #Byelections2024” he wrote on social media site X.

Senior citizens showed up at polling stations across the three assembly segments in Karnataka in wheelchairs on Wednesday despite facing physical ailments.

The BJP has been facing growing internal discord, with several leaders voicing discontent. The by-polls are especially significant for state BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra, who views a victory as crucial to quelling dissent within the party. Critics have challenged his leadership, accusing both him and his father, senior leader B. S. Yediyurappa, of engaging in “adjustment politics.”
The saffron party's campaigning efforts have also been coloured by controversy surrounding a report that recommended legal action against former CM Yediyurappa and ex-minister B. Sriramulu for alleged irregularities in Covid-19-related procurement of equipment and medicines.

BJP leader and Former CM Basavaraj Bommai casted his vote at a polling booth in Shiggaon on Wednesday morning, as voting in bypoll to the assembly constituency is underway. His son Bharath Bommai is the BJP candidate for by-poll to the Shiggaon assembly constituency.

(ANI)

Karnataka by-polls 2024 LIVE: "From the last 18 days, people have given me confidence. I am very confident today that the work done by HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy will come in handy for my victory. The youth is with me...I am confident that the people of Channapatna will bless me," JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy said.

(ANI)

An estimated overall 10.14 per cent voter turnout was recorded during the first two hours, since the voting began for by-polls to three Assembly segments in Karnataka on Wednesday, election officials said.
(PTI)