Bengaluru Oct 30 PTI Voting is underway for the bypolls in Sindgi and Hangal assembly constituencies in Karnataka election officials said on SaturdayThe polling began at 7 am will go on till 7 pmA total of 19 candidates are in the fray in the two constituencies including six from Sindgi and 13 from Hangal Two candidates from Sindgi are womenThe counting of votes will take place on November 2There are a total of 439148 eligible voters including 230 service voters from both the constituencies who can cast their votes at 560 polling stationsThe by-elections have been necessitated as the seats fell vacant following the death of Sindgi JDS legislator M C Managuli and BJPs C M Udasi from Hangal While Ramesh Bhusanur who came second behind Managuli in 2018 polls is the BJP candidate from Sindgi Shivaraj Sajjanar is its candidate from Hangal constituency The Congress has named M C Managulis son Ashok Managuli who has joined the party as its candidate from Sindgi while former MLC Srinivas Mane is its candidate from HangalThe JDS which was the first to announce its candidates has fielded 33-year-old post graduate Naziya Shakeel Ahmed Angadi from Sindgi and 35-year-old BE MTech graduate Niyaz Shaikh from HangalThis is the first electoral challenge for Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after taking charge Retaining Hangal is even more important for him as it is the neighbouring constituency to his Shiggaon assembly segmentThe Congress by ensuring a win wants to give momentum for its preparations in the run up to 2023 assembly polls in the state while the JDS is looking to retain Sindgi seat and thereby prove that it still commands a support base in the northern districtsCongress leaders have alleged that the JDS deliberately fielded minority candidates for the Hangal and Sindgi by-elections to help the BJP PTI KSU RHL