Karnataka: Two MLA constituencies, one Council constituency ready for polls
Mangaluru: The election season in Karnataka is set to continue as bypolls have become due for three seats, two in the Legislative Assembly and one in the Council, after the legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha in the recent elections.
The BJP’s Basavaraj Bommai has vacated the Shiggaon seat, and Congress’ E. Tukaram, Sundur and the BJP MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary has resigned the Dakshina Kannada local bodies seat in the Council.
All three have represented their respective constituencies since 2008. Party leaders suggest that the elections, required within six months, may take place sooner, likely after the monsoon season.
Party activities have slowly commenced, with local workers and leaders expressing their aspirations for party tickets in these constituencies.
Shiggaon, in Haveri district, has been a stronghold for Bommai since he joined the BJP in 2008. Before that, the constituency alternated between the Congress and the Janata Dal (S), and independents had won the seat twice. The Congress an increase in the vote share in this segment.
Poojary won the Dakshina Kannada local authorities constituency in 2008 in a by-election following the death of former minister Blasius M D’Souza. The BJP has more votes than the Congress in this Council constituency.
Tukaram, winner at Sandur since 2008, was a minister in H.D. Kumaraswamy’s second ministry. Confident of retaining this seat, Congress is also witnessing a surge in aspirants.
