Karnataka Bypoll Results 2024 LIVE: Congress leads in Sandur, BJP and JD(S) ahead in Shiggaon, Channapatna

Trends show the ruling Congress leading in Sandur segment, and BJP and JD(S) ahead in Shiggaon and Channapatna constituencies respectively, as the counting of votes is underway for bypolls held to three Assembly segments in Karnataka.

BJP leader Bharath Bommai is leading from the Shiggaon seat against Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former chief minister in the 2023 Assembly polls.

JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy is leading from Channapatna assembly seat. JD(S) is part of the NDA. In Channapatna, which witnessed a "high profile" battle, among the three segments, JD(S)' actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is the son of Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson, is leading against Congress' C P Yogeeshwara.

Karnataka Bypolls Results: Visuals from counting centre in Shiggaon where counting of votes is underway.

Early trends show the BJP and JD(S) ahead in Shiggaon and Channapatna constituencies respectively, as the counting of votes is underway for bypolls held in three Assembly segments in Karnataka. The by-election for three segments was held on November 13, and the trends show the three parties leading in the seats they had represented in the past.

Congress candidate E Annapoorna is leading in Sandur seat in early trends. As per the Election Commission, Annapurna is leading with 2,586 votes.

The counting of votes began at 8 am in three centres (one each in three segments) and poll officials expect a clear picture about the outcome to emerge by mid-day.

The counting of votes is underway on Saturday for the high stake bypolls held to three Assembly segments in Karnataka, which witnessed a fierce fight between the ruling Congress and a combative BJP-JD(S) alliance.

The countig of votes for the all the three assembly constituencies in the state where bypolls are held has begun. Results for bypolls to the state's Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna Assembly constituencies that were held on November 13 will be declared on today.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday expressed confidence about Congress winning all the three assembly constituencies in the state. "The exit polls will fail, we will win all the three seats. In Channapatna, I said I'm the candidate irrespective of whoever contests from the party, I'm the candidate and I'm the face. If we lose, it is my loss," said Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, said in response to a question.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday expressed confidence of winning bypolls in all three assembly segments in the state. "I am confident we will win all three bypolls," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. The CM said he does not believe in exit polls as they have gone wrong in the recent state elections like Haryana, he added.

The bypolls witnessed a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Sandur and Shiggaon segments, while in Channapatna, JD(S), which is part of the NDA alliance, is in contest against the grand old party.

Among the three segments, Channapatna is considered to be a 'high profile', where the contest is between C P Yogeeshwara, a five time MLA from the segment and former Minister, who joined the Congress quitting BJP recently, and actor-turned -politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is Kumaraswamy's son and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson.

BJP's Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai, had a direct fight against Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former Chief Minister in the 2023 Assembly polls, in Shiggaon. In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife E Annapurna of Congress is contesting from the seat vacated by her husband, against BJP state ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu, who is considered close to party leader and former mining baron G Janardhana Reddy.

There was a tentative 81.84 per cent voters turnout in three Assembly segments of Karnataka where bypolls were held on November 13, election officials said. While Channapatna recorded a record 88.48 per cent voter turnout, it was 80.48 per cent in Shiggaon, and 76.24 per cent in Sandur, the officials said.

More than seven lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates were in the fray. Channapatna had the highest number of 31 candidates in the fray, while Sandur and Shiggaon have six and eight contenders, respectively.

Results for bypolls to the Karnataka's Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna Assembly constituencies that were held on November 13 will be declared on today.