Crucial polls in Four Karnataka constituencies: One goes to Congress

Bengaluru: Four constituencies in Karnataka, where a newly formed Congress-JD(S) came into power recently, have elections that may change the equilibrium either way in the house: two of them where polls were deferred and two which have by-polls. Out of this, the one in Rajarajeswari Nagar Bengaluru polled on Monday, and Congress has retained the seat, as the result emerged on Thursday.

While assembly elections across the state were held on May 12, polling in Rajarajeshwari Nagar was deferred to May 28 by the Election Commission after the voter ID controversy erupted and also on grounds of electoral malpractices.

In Jayanagar constituency, where the BJP candidate had died and polelection deferred, polling is scheduled for June 11. In the constituency of Ramanagara, Mandya, one out of the two seats chief minister Kumaraswamy had won and later vacated, and in Jamkhandi, Bagalkot whose MLA died in an accident, by-polls are due but the Election Commission has not so far declared the date.

The results of these four constituencies are crucial for both the BJP and the ruling front. With the death of Siddu Nyama Gowda in an incident, the majority of the ruling allinace has come down to 116. In the house, BJP holds 104 seats, Congress 77 and JDS 37. The government also enjoys the support of 2 independents. The goal of the Congress-JD(S) coalition is to win more seats and avert the threat against government.

BJP is eyeing the prospect of winning all three seats, other than Ramanagara. Jayanagar is the sitting seat of the party. In RR Nagar BJP had secured 41.8 per cent votes in 2008, believe that the cases pending against the Congress MLA will be in its favour.

In Bagalkot district BJP had made gains this time. In the Assembly which has 225 seats including an Ango-Indian nominee, simple majority needs 113 seats. Although the government has won confidence vote in the house, BJP is pinning hopes on destabilizing the coalition after six months.