Counting of votes in the three Legislative Assembly constituencies that went to the polls on August 21 will be held on Monday. The results will be out by around noon.
Counting will begin at 8 a.m. and end around 1 p.m. in all three constituencies. The poll officials have made elaborate security arrangements at the counting centres in the three districts. Observers have been deployed at the counting centres to monitor and oversee the process, according an official at the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) here.
After the Lok Sabha elections, both the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP fought a bitter battle in the constituencies of Chikodi-Sadalaga, Bellary (ST) and Shikaripur.
Of the three constituencies, Congress is holding Chikkodi-Sadalga and BJP holds Shikaripur and Bellary (ST).
The poll outcome will test the popularity and prestige of the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and B.S. Yeddyurappa, BJP national vice-president and MP.
The Congress government has been mired in several controversies, including rejection of KPSC list and denotification of land in Arkavathi Layout.
It is also a prestige issue for Mr. Yeddyurappa, former Chief Minister, as his son B.Y. Raghavendra is contesting from Shikaripur, where the BJP leader has won several times.
The seat fell vacant after Mr. Yeddyurappa was elected to the Lok Sabha from Shimoga, the seat Mr. Raghavendra held earlier.
The JD(S) did not field candidates in all three constituencies.
(The Hindu)
