Votes are being cast today for the by-elections in 15 assembly seats in Karnataka from 7 am on Thursday. The voting will last till six in the evening. During this time, a total of 37.78 lakh voters of the state will use their franchise. The Election Commission has completed all preparations. These by-elections are being held for vacant seats after disqualifying 17 rebel MLAs of Congress and JDS.
The results of the by-election will come on 09 December. With these results, the fate of the BJP government led by the current Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa is to be decided. In the 225-member Karnataka Assembly (including the Speaker), the BJP needs at least six seats to continue in power. Of the 15 seats going to the by-elections today, 12 were held by the Congress and three by the JDS. At present, BJP has 105 MLAs (one Independent), Congress 66 and JDS 34 MLAs.
The HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS coalition government fell in July last year due to 17 rebel MLAs from the Congress and the JDS leading to the BJP's return to power. The BJP has nominated 13 disqualified MLAs as its candidates. These rebel MLAs joined the BJP last month after being allowed to participate in the by-elections from the Supreme Court.
