Bengaluru: Bypolls are being held today in Karnataka in 15 assembly constituencies with the ruling BJP government hoping to win at least six to stay in power. Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
The byelections are being held to fill the vacancies triggered by the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and Janata DalSecular MLAs, whose rebellion led to the collapse of the coalition government led by HD Kumaraswamy in July and paved the way for the BJP to take over in its stead. To maintain its majority in the 225-member assembly, which would still have two vacant seats in Maski and RR Nagar, the BJP needs to win at least six seats. The BJP currently has 105 MLAs (including an independent one), while the Congress and the Janata Dal Secular respectively have 66 and 34. There is also a member of the Bahujan Samaj Party, a candidate and the Speaker.
