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Bangalore: : Polling began in the byelections to the Karnataka Assembly from eight constituencies today.
Ministers Balachandra Jarakiholi, Anand Asnotikar, K Shivanagowda Naik, Umesh Katti and Anita, wife of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, making her debut into poll politics, were among the prominent candidates in fray.
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Widow of JDS leader M S Siddaraju, whose death caused the bye-election in Maddur, is banking upon the sympathy factor for her maiden entry into the state assembly in this constituency in Cauvery heartland.
The other notables whose poll furtunes would be decided by the 13.69 lakh electorate include former minister C Chennigappa in Madhugiri, who is taking on Anita, Congress MP, R L Jalappa's son J Narasimhaswamy (BJP) in Doddaballapur and D C Thammanna (Maddur), a former MLAs who crossed over to BJP from Congress on the eve of bypoll.
In all 73 aspirants are in fray for the polls being held under the watchful eyes of 9,500 security personnel in the constituencies of Hukkeri, Arabhavi, Devadurga, Karwar, Turuvekere, Madhugiri, Doddaballapur and Maddur.
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The bye-elections were necessitated by defections by seven MLAs -- three Congress and four JDS-- to the BJP and the death of Siddaraju in Maddur.
Counting of votes will be taken up on December 30.
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The Election Commission was forced to deploy two EVMs in Madhugiri where 25 candidates are contesting.
The bypolls will witness a triangular fight between the ruling BJP, opposition Congress and JDS.
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