Jayanagar elections today: BJP banks on sympathy votes

The elections to the Jayanagar assembly constituency in Bengaluru would be held today. Polling would begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm. Counting would be held on Wednesday.

The elections in Jayanagar were postponed after BJP candidate, B N Vijaykumar passed away while he was campaigning during the Karnataka assembly elections which concluded in May.

The BJP has fielded Vijayakumar's brother B N Prahlad Babu, who will face Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy. In all, 19 candidates are in the fray, including independent nominee Ravi Krishna Reddy.

The JD(S) which formed the government with the Congress withdrew its candidate at the last minute. The BJP would hope to capitalise on the sympathy vote to win the election against Sowmya. Ramalinga Reddy had left no stone unturned to ensure that his daughter wins the elections.

There are 2,03,184 voters in the constituency, including 1,02,668 men and 16 transgenders. Security has been deployed in the area in view of the polls.