Karnataka Bypolls: Bagalkot Records 54.82% Turnout Till 3 PM, Davanagere South at 49.66%

Voting for the by-elections in Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies in Karnataka saw steady turnout on Thursday, with Bagalkot recording 54.82% polling and Davanagere South registering 49.66% turnout till 3 pm.

Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. The bypolls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H.Y. Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 4.

Though the results are unlikely to alter the immediate political balance in the state, the contest is seen as a prestige battle between the ruling Congress and the BJP.

Direct Congress vs BJP Contest

Both constituencies are witnessing a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP. While the Congress is aiming to retain both seats, the BJP is looking to wrest them and gain momentum ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.

The Congress has fielded family members of the deceased leaders. Umesh Meti, son of H.Y. Meti, is contesting from Bagalkot, while Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is in the fray from Davanagere South.

The BJP has fielded Veerabhadrayya Charantimath in Bagalkot and Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa in Davanagere South.

Davanagere South: High Stakes Contest

In Davanagere South, polling is being held across 284 polling stations, of which 72 have been identified as critical. The constituency has over 2.31 lakh voters, including 1.13 lakh men and 1.17 lakh women.

A total of 25 candidates are in the fray, including a significant number from the Muslim community, raising concerns within the Congress about a possible split in votes.

Minor technical glitches were reported at two polling stations in the morning, causing brief delays.

Bagalkot: Strong Early Turnout

Bagalkot, with over 2.59 lakh voters, saw steady participation through the day, with queues reported at several polling booths. The constituency has 332 polling stations covering 31 wards and around 90 villages.

Women voters outnumber men in the constituency, with 1.32 lakh women compared to 1.26 lakh men.

Polling officials have made elaborate arrangements, including special booths for women, youth and persons with disabilities, along with webcasting at all polling stations.

Campaign Intensity and Political Stakes

Top leaders from both parties campaigned extensively in the two constituencies. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and several ministers camped in the regions for over a week.

The BJP criticised the extensive campaigning by the Congress leadership, calling it a sign of "fear of defeat."

In Bagalkot, the Congress managed internal dissent within the Meti family, while the BJP maintained unity in candidate selection. In Davanagere South, some discontent remained over ticket allocation, particularly among sections of the Muslim community.

Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth polling. Over 1,500 personnel have been deployed in Bagalkot alone, along with additional police forces.

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities were allowed to vote from home through postal ballots, with officials ensuring videography of the process.

What's at Stake

In the 2023 Assembly elections, H.Y. Meti won Bagalkot by 5,878 votes, while Shivashankarappa won Davanagere South by a margin of 27,888 votes.

For the Congress, retaining both seats is crucial to maintain its political standing. For the BJP, a win would serve as a boost ahead of future elections.

With polling underway and turnout picking up steadily, both constituencies are witnessing a closely watched contest. The final outcome will be declared on May 4.