K'taka bypolls register low turn-out

Bangalore, Aug 21: Polling for two vacant Lok Sabha seats, Bangalore (rural) and Mandya began on Wednesday at 8 a m and continued till 5 p m in the evening amid tight security arrangements made by the State Election Commission.

According to the reports Mandya district recorded 42.47 per cent and Bangalore (rural) constituency saw only 39 per cent of voting which is said to be the lowest turn out in both the regions.

Around 15 per cent polling was recorded till noon in both the centers and showed a slight increase by the end but the authorities estimated that the voting figure would touch 50 per cent in both the Lok Sabha constituencies.

The two seats fell vacant after sitting MP's from the JD(Secular) quit to join the Karnataka assembly after the elections in May.

The ruling Congress has fielded DK Suresh, brother of former state working president and Congress MLA DK Shivakumar, against the JD(S) candidate Anitha Kumaraswamy.

In Mandya, the Congress fielded actor turned politician Ramya against JD(S)'s C S Puttaraju. The BJP isn't contesting the polls and decided to back the JD(S).

The counting will take place on August 24.

OneIndia News