BJP leads in two, Congress in one in assembly bypolls in Karnataka

Bengaluru: BJP is leading in two of the three Assembly constituencies that went to by-elections on Friday.

According to the office of Chief Electoral Officer, BJP is leading in Devadurga and Hebbal constituencies by a margin of 15,025 votes and 16,171 votes, respectively, and Congress in Bidar by a margin of 20,248 votes till around noon. The by-polls were necessitated due to the death of sitting members.

In all the three constituencies, there is a direct fight between ruling Congress and opposition BJP, while political infighting in former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) has reduced the party to third position.

Hebbal in Bengaluru is considered crucial for Congress as stakes are high for the party, which has fielded C K Abdul Rahman Sharief, grandson of senior party leader C K Jaffer Sharief, against the wishes of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who had opted for MLC Byrathi Suresh as the candidate.

As per current trends, BJP's Y A Narayana Swamy in Hebbal is leading with 37,640 votes, while Rahman Shariff has secured 21,469 and JD(S) candidate Ismail Sharieff Nana 2,515 votes.

Ten candidates are in the fray in Bidar, three in Devadurga and 20 in Hebbal. Of the three seats, BJP had held Hebbal and Bidar and Congress Devadurga.