Bangalore: Voting Begins for Koppal Bypoll Amid Tight Security

Bangalore, Sep 26 (Agencies): Polling began on Monday morning for the by-election to Koppal Assembly constituency in Karnataka amid tight security.

About 1.88 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the poll fortunes of 14 contestants, icluding those of ruling BJP and Congress.

Electoral authorities have drafted about 1,000 personnel for conduting the polling in 210 polling stations in the constituency, official sources said. Besides, around 2,000 police personnel have been deployed to provide security cover.

The contest will be mainly between BJP nominee Karadi Sanganna and Congress candidate Basavaraj Hitnal. Pradeep Patil is trying his luck as JDS nominee. The bypoll was necessitated to fill up the vacancy caused by Sanganna who resigned the seat which he had won on a JDS ticket in 2008 polls and defected to BJP in March.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and his ministerial colleagues have criss crossed the entire constituency to ensure the victory of BJP candidate. However, Gowda has said the outcome cannot be considered a referrendum on his administration as he had assumed office barely two months ago.

The Congress Campaign was led by KPCC President G Parameshawara and leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah. Counting of votes will take place on September 29.