Voting for seven Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) seats continued on Wednesday with eight candidates in the fray, amid reports of cross-voting that have added a new dimension to the contest.
A significant development in the election was the reported support extended to Congress candidates by two legislators expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), S T Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar. According to sources, both legislators allegedly voted in favour of Congress candidates, a move that could prove crucial for the party’s prospects, particularly in the contest for the seventh seat. The two legislators were also seen with the Chief Minister during the voting process.
Polling began at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 4 p.m. Counting of votes will commence at 5 p.m., with results expected to be declared on the same day. Election officials stated that each candidate requires a minimum of 28 votes to secure victory.
In the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Congress holds a clear majority with 134 legislators. The BJP has 62 members, while Janata Dal (Secular) has 18 legislators. Four members belong to independent or smaller parties.
Based on the current numerical strength in the Assembly, Congress appears positioned to secure four seats, while the BJP is considered to be in a b position for two seats. The contest for the seventh seat remains the focal point of the election, with both Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) fielding separate candidates, creating the possibility of vote division.
The Congress candidates are T. Kamakanoor, P.V. Mohan, B K Hariprasad, Shivanna B.S., and Vinay Karthik Prakash.
The BJP candidates are Lingaraj Patil and Raghu R.
Janata Dal (Secular) has fielded Govindraju as its candidate.
Following the recent change in power in Karnataka, the Congress government has strengthened its position in the state. The role of D K Shivakumar as Chief Minister is also being viewed as significant in the context of this election.
