Cong, BJP surprised at LS bypolls in Karna; CM's wife to

The Election Commission's decision to hold byelections to three Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka on November 3 has come as a surprise to most political parties who questioned the necessity for the exercise in view of the general elections due early next year.

Pointing to the short term of about five months those elected in the bypoll would have, Congress and BJP said the Lok Sbaha elections would be held within five months.

Election Commission had yesterday announced bypolls to Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya and Ramanagara and Jamkhandi assembly constituencies will take place on November 3. The counting of votes will be on November 6.

The by-elections had been necessitated after BJPs B S Yeddyurappa (Shivamogga) and B Sriramalu (Ballari), and C S Puttaraju of JD(S) (Mandya) resigned as MPs on their election to the assembly in May last.

Bypolls to Jamkhandi assembly seat was necessitated following the death of Congress MLA Siddu Nyamagouda, while Ramanagara fell vacant as chief minister H D Kumaraswamy gave up the seat and retained Channapatna, the other segment won by him in the assembly elections.

The parties welcomed the byelection to the assembly constituencies and said they would finalise their candidates even as JDS, heading the coalition government with Congress, appeared all set to field Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha in Ramanagara seat.

On a visit to Ramanagara Sunday, Anitha herself said she would contest from the segment.

Responding to questions from reporters, initially she indicated she would contest and asked them to wait for two days for official announcement.

However, faced with persistent questions, she said her candidature had been confirmed.

KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao said Saturday they were expecting the assembly by-polls because it was necesssary since the House still has a term of four-and-half years, but questioned the need for holding elections to the three Lok Sabha seats.

Pointing out that the Lok Sabha was expected by March or April, he said we need to think about the need for this (by-poll)."