By-election live: BJP sweeps Karnataka by-polls, wins 12 seats, Congress settles with 2

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The counting of votes in the crucial byelection to 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka started at 8 AM and the result will decide the fate of four-month-old B S Yeddyurappa government in the state. The by-election was held on December 5 in Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapura, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijaynagara, Chikkaballapura, K.R. Pura, Yeshwanthpura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagara, Hosakote, K.R. Pete and Hunsur Assembly seats on December 5.

BJP, which currently has 105 MLAs in the 225-member House, needs to win at least six seats to retain its majority in the Assembly. The ruling party has the support of an independent MLA too. The Congress has 66 MLAs, JDS 34, BSP 1 and there is one nominated MLA in the House. The Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly also has the right to cast vote.  It is to be noted that Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Maski did not go to polls as election petitions challenging results of the 2018 election are in Karnataka High Court.

Before Yeddyurappa took oath as chief minister, the Congress-JD-S alliance government led by former CM HD Kumaraswamy fell after the resignation of 14 Congress and three JD-S MLAs. All the rebel MLAS were disqualified by the previous Speaker and the bypolls were held on December 5. 

Over 38 lakh voters, including 19.25 lakh males and 18.52 lakh females, exercised their franchise in these 15 seats. A total of candidates, including 126 independents and 9 women are in the fray in the 15 Assembly segments

The BJP and Congress contested in all the 15 assembly seats, while the JD-S fielded its candidates in 12 seats. There will be a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress at Athani in Belagavi district, Yellapura in Uttara Kannada district and Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district.

Stay tuned with Zee News for all live updates of Karnakata by-election results and news

09 December 2019

18:55 IST

Karnataka by-polls final result:
BJP - 12
Congress - 2
Independent - 1

18:29 IST

BJP's BA Basavaraja is leading from K R Pura constituency with a margin of 63443 votes, Congress' M Narayanaswamy remains in the second position.