Karnataka Legislative Council Polls for Four Seats Conclude Peacefully

Elections for four seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council concluded on Friday with minor clashes in Bengaluru, while overall voting remained peaceful across the constituencies. Out of 3.43 lakh eligible voters, 2.01 lakh people cast their votes, and the vote counting is scheduled for October 27.

Contestants And Alliances

Forty-three candidates are in the fray across the graduates' and teachers' constituencies. The Congress party is contesting all four seats, while NDA allies BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) are contesting three seats and one seat respectively. Currently, the Congress holds one of these contested seats while the BJP holds three. In the 75-member Upper House, the Congress has 38 members, the BJP has 24, and the JD(S) has six, alongside five vacant seats, one independent member, and the Chairman.

Constituency Details

The Bengaluru Teachers' Constituency recorded 81.98% voter turnout, where five-time MLC Puttanna is running on a Congress ticket against JD(S) candidate A.P. Ranganath. In the Karnataka West Graduates' seat, 75.62% of voters cast ballots as sitting BJP member S.V. Sankanur faces former MLC Mohan Limbikai, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and former Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti among those voting. The North East Teachers' Constituency saw 86.97% turnout with BJP MLC Shashil Namoshi facing Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur. The Karnataka South East Graduates' Constituency recorded 73.58% turnout, featuring a contest between BJP's K.M. Suresh and Congress candidate Shashi Hulkuntemutt.

Bengaluru Incidents

Voting at the Ambedkar College premises in Bengaluru saw tension when followers of Rajarajeshwari Nagar legislator Muniratna nearly clashed with Congress workers over alleged insults, leading to a dharna. Police registered a case and counter-case at the Annapoorneshwarinagar police station under BNS sections for unlawful assembly and voluntarily causing simple hurt, though no arrests were made as no major injuries occurred during the shouting and pushing.

Context

Legislative Council elections in India use a system of proportional representation through the single transferable vote, involving specific electorates like graduates and teachers. These biennial elections are crucial for maintaining political representation in the state's upper legislative chamber alongside the legislative assembly.