In what is being seen as a bittersweet result for the ruling BJP and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in Karnataka, the saffron party has won the Sindgi assembly segment, but lost the Hangal seat to Congress, in the bypolls held on October 30. According to results announced by the Election Commission of India on Tuesday, […]

Bengaluru Oct 30 PTI An approximate 69 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the bypoll to Sindgi assembly constituency in Karnataka while it was 84 per cent in Hangal segment election officials said on Saturday Polling began at 7 am and went on till 7 pm According to poll officials elections were held by strictly adhering to COVID-19 guidelines and no incidents have been reported A total of 19 candidates were in the fray in the two constituencies including six from Sindgi and 13 from Hangal Two candidates from Sindgi were women Counting of votes will take place on November 2 A total of 439148 voters including 230 service voters were eligible to cast their votes from both constituencies at 560 polling stations The by-election was 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 Hangal The 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 Hangal This 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 segment The 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 districts PTI KSU BN BN