Moderate polling in Karnataka Assembly by-polls.

Bangalore, Aug 21: Moderate voter turnout of about 30 per cent was reported till 1 pm in the by-polls to three Assembly constituencies in Karnataka today, where the ruling Congress and BJP are locked in a prestigious tussle.

Officials said about 30 per cent voting was reported from Chikkodi-Sadalga and Shikaripura and 38 per cent in Bellary Rural, with the polling process being peaceful. The three constituencies have a total electorate of over 5.57 lakh.

Today's elections are a litmus test for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and BJP national Vice-President and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa as this is the first electoral showdown after the recent Lok Sabha polls.

After its humiliating defeat in the 2013 Assembly polls that saw exit of BJP's first-ever government in the South, it staged a comeback in Lok Sabha polls, winning 17 of the 28 seats, leaving only nine to Congress and two to JDS.

The Congress has gone all out not only to retain Chikkodi-Sadalga but also wrest from the BJP Bellary Rural and Shikaripura seat, where Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra is a candidate. Yeddyurappa had vacated the Shikaripura seat after his election to the Lok Sabha from Shimoga, which Raghavendra had earlier represented.

JDS, dogged by rumblings of discontent within over the leadership of its supremo Gowda and his son and former Chief Minster H D Kumaraswamy, has not fielded any candidates. Twenty two candidates are in the fray. Counting of votes will take place on August 25.

PTI