<p>Karnataka will go for its first elections on Wednesday for four legislative council seats amid the Covid-19 pandemic scare and the recent flood fury in several parts of the state.</p>.<p>The retirement of the four members of the legislative council necessitated the election.</p>.<p>The election should have taken place before June 30.</p>.<p>However, in the wake of the pandemic, it was postponed for an indefinite period. Subsequently, the Election Commission in September decided to conduct the elections on October 28.</p>.<p>These MLC elections are taking place for Karnataka South-East Graduates, Karnataka West Graduates', Karnataka North-East Teachers' and Bangalore Teachers' constituencies, which fell vacant due to the retirement of R Chowda Reddy Thoopalli, S V Sankanur, Sharanappa Mattur and Puttanna respectively.</p>.<p>Forty candidates are trying their luck in the elections in the four seats.</p>.<p>According to the Election Commission, Karnataka South-East Graduates constituency has 1.09 lakh voters who will cast their votes at 187 polling stations.</p>.<p>There are 15 candidates in the fray.</p>.<p>The BJP has fielded Chidanand M Gowda, Congress Ramesh Babu and JD(S) R Chowda Reddy Thoopalli.</p>.<p>In Karnataka West Graduates' constituency there are 11 candidates trying their luck and the fight is between S V Sankanur of BJP and R M Kuberappa of the Congress.</p>.<p>The constituency has 74,268 voters and 146 polling booths.</p>.<p>The Karnataka North-East Teachers' constituency has 29,234 voters who will vote at 147 polling stations.</p>.<p>Five candidates are contesting the elections there but the fight is primarily between Shashi G Namoshi of BJP, Sharanappa Mattur of Congress and Timmaiah Purle of JD(S).</p>.<p>The Bangalore Teachers' Constituency has 22,089 voters who will exercise their franchise at 69 polling booths. The fight is mainly between Puttanna of BJP, Praveen Peter of Congress and A P Ranganath of JD(S).</p>.<p>The election is crucial for the Bharatiya Janata Party as it lacks a majority in the state Legislative Council.</p>.<p>In the council with a strength of 75 members, Congress has 28 members, BJP -- 27 members, Janata Dal (Secular) -- 14 members, one independent, one chairman and four vacant seats.</p>.<p>All those who retired from the council are in the fray again.</p>.<p>The counting of votes will be held on November 2.</p>
<p>Karnataka will go for its first elections on Wednesday for four legislative council seats amid the Covid-19 pandemic scare and the recent flood fury in several parts of the state.</p>.<p>The retirement of the four members of the legislative council necessitated the election.</p>.<p>The election should have taken place before June 30.</p>.<p>However, in the wake of the pandemic, it was postponed for an indefinite period. Subsequently, the Election Commission in September decided to conduct the elections on October 28.</p>.<p>These MLC elections are taking place for Karnataka South-East Graduates, Karnataka West Graduates', Karnataka North-East Teachers' and Bangalore Teachers' constituencies, which fell vacant due to the retirement of R Chowda Reddy Thoopalli, S V Sankanur, Sharanappa Mattur and Puttanna respectively.</p>.<p>Forty candidates are trying their luck in the elections in the four seats.</p>.<p>According to the Election Commission, Karnataka South-East Graduates constituency has 1.09 lakh voters who will cast their votes at 187 polling stations.</p>.<p>There are 15 candidates in the fray.</p>.<p>The BJP has fielded Chidanand M Gowda, Congress Ramesh Babu and JD(S) R Chowda Reddy Thoopalli.</p>.<p>In Karnataka West Graduates' constituency there are 11 candidates trying their luck and the fight is between S V Sankanur of BJP and R M Kuberappa of the Congress.</p>.<p>The constituency has 74,268 voters and 146 polling booths.</p>.<p>The Karnataka North-East Teachers' constituency has 29,234 voters who will vote at 147 polling stations.</p>.<p>Five candidates are contesting the elections there but the fight is primarily between Shashi G Namoshi of BJP, Sharanappa Mattur of Congress and Timmaiah Purle of JD(S).</p>.<p>The Bangalore Teachers' Constituency has 22,089 voters who will exercise their franchise at 69 polling booths. The fight is mainly between Puttanna of BJP, Praveen Peter of Congress and A P Ranganath of JD(S).</p>.<p>The election is crucial for the Bharatiya Janata Party as it lacks a majority in the state Legislative Council.</p>.<p>In the council with a strength of 75 members, Congress has 28 members, BJP -- 27 members, Janata Dal (Secular) -- 14 members, one independent, one chairman and four vacant seats.</p>.<p>All those who retired from the council are in the fray again.</p>.<p>The counting of votes will be held on November 2.</p>