Polling for the by-elections to three Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies has ended, with the Jamkhandi assembly segment clocking a record voter turnout of 81.58%, according to figures by the Election Commission.
In the May 2018 Assembly election, the constituency had registered a voter turnout of 74.98%.
The Jamkhandi constituency bypoll is seen as a high-stakes battle for Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah. A native of Mysuru, Siddaramaiah is now reckoned as a north Karnataka leader after his election as legislator of the Badami constituency in Bagalkot district, which also houses the Jamkhandi constituency.
In Jamkhandi, the Congress has fielded Anand Nyamagouda, son of late MLA Siddu Nyamagouda, who was Siddaramaiah’s aide. Anand is up against BJP’s Shrikant Kulkarni.
The Ramanagara assembly constituency, where Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s wife Anitha Kumaraswamy is seeking to be elected, saw an impressive voter turnout of 73.71%. This is lower compared with the 82.55% voter turnout the constituency saw in the May polls.
The Lok Sabha seats of Bellary, Shimoga and Mandya have fared poorly, indicating voter apathy. The term of those who will get elected as MPs of these seats will be less than six months. Bellary ended with a voter turnout of 63.85%, Shimoga with 61% and Mandya with the lowest of 53.93%.