With the Election Commission on Saturday announcing the by-poll schedule for 15 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, the Congress has sounded the poll bugle, while the JD(S) announced it would go it alone.
The ruling BJP, amid ongoing efforts to protect the interests of the disqualified Congress-JD(S) MLAs with whose help it came to power, has expressed confidence of winning all the seats.
Winning a majority of the seats in the by-polls is necessary for the BJP to continue to stay in power.
The EC announced by-elections to constituencies represented by 15 of the 17 disqualified former Congress-JD(S) MLAs on October 21 with results to be declared on October 24.
Absence and resignation of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs during the trust vote had led to the collapse of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July, and helped BJP to come to power.
After examining the petition moved by leadership of both parties, the then Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar had disqualified 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs under the anti-defection law, which they have challenged in the Supreme Court.
The 15 constituencies that will go to polls are: Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapura, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijaynagara, Chickballapura, K R Pura, Yeshwanthpura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagara, Hosakote, K R Pete and Hunsur.
Among the 15 constituencies going for polls, 12 were represented by Congress and three by JD(S).
By-polls have not been announced for Maski and Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituencies, due to the pending election petitions in the High Court relating to the 2018 Assembly elections.
The BJP, which came to power with the help of these 17 disqualified MLAs, had plans to field them as candidates in the bypolls on getting respite from the Supreme Court, where the legislators have challenged their disqualification.
The then Speaker Ramesh Kumar had ruled that those disqualified, cease to be MLAs with immediate effect till the expiry of the 15th Assembly (in 2023).
With the EC announcing the by-poll schedule on Saturday, and the Supreme Court yet to hear their plea, the 17 disqualified legislators are in "trouble."
Reacting to the poll schedule announcement, BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "the Election Commission has announced by-polls for 15 constituencies. On the disqualified MLAs, court and EC will decide. Our party is prepared for polls."
Expressing confidence that the BJP will win all 15 seats, he said, "without challenge it is not politics."
Later speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said, "Election has been announced on October 21... we had expected by-elections, but did not expect it in October itself, we had thought it will be in November or December. Election Commission has announced, we are prepared to face it."
Regarding an alliance with JD(S), he maintained the "high command will decide, they will seek our opinion."
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