Polling is underway in the three byelection-bound constituencies of Belagavi (Lok Sabha), Maski and Basavakalyan (Assembly) in Karnataka.
Polling got off to a slow start and picked up around 11 a.m. in all the constituencies.
BJP candidate Mangala Angadi, her daughters Dr Spoorti Patil and Shraddha Shettar voted in the government school in Vishweshvarayya Nagar. She performed pooja to the EVM before voting.
At Belagavi, Congress candidate Satish Jarkiholi, his wife and children voted in the government school in Gokak. MES candidate Shubham Shelke voted in the government Marathi school on Mahadwar road. BJP MLA Abhay Patil and his wife voted in the government Marathi school in Basavana Galli in the old city.
Poll boycott
Voters of Hire Tadasi and Chikka Tadasi villages near Ramdurg boycotted the Parliamentary by poll to protest against the delay in release of compensation to farmers who suffered flood damage in 2019 and 2020. "We are tired of submitting memorandum after memorandum to the teheshildar and DC. We have made several requests to the ministers, MLA and MP to release us flood relief. But we have not got any," a farmers' representative said.
Also read | EC flags 144 cases of COVID-19 norm violations
Ravi Patil, secretary of the district weavers' welfare association said weavers in some parts of the district were boycotting the polls. "Our members in Belagavi, Belagavi rural and Ramdurg have boycotted the polls, he said. That is because of the failure of the government to help struggling weavers during the lock down," he said.
Candidate positive
At Maski, Congress candidate Basanagowda Turvihal cast his vote in polling booth at Government High School at Turvihal village. BJP candidate Pratapgowda Patil is likely to cast his vote after 6 p.m. since he is under home quarantine after tested positive for COVID-19.
Homage paid
At Basavakalyan, Congress candidate Mala B Narayanarao, wife of the late B. Narayanarao whose death necessitated the byelection, visited the samadhi of her husband and paid homage before proceeding to exercise her franchise.
BJP candidate Sharanu Salagar offered puja at Basaveshwar Temple before going to cast his vote at Basavakalyan APMC yard. JD(S) candidate Sayed Yasrub Ali Quadri cast his vote near Hazrat Dargah.
BJP rebel candidate Mallikarjun Khuba, who is in the fray as an Independent candidate after he was denied party ticket, cast his vote at a government school in Tripurantha.
Ramesh Jarkiholi
Ramesh Jarkiholi, former minister who is recuperating from COVID-19, did not come to the booth to vote in Gokak on Saturday.
Polling officers said the MLA had sent his vote by post to the polling officer in Gokak two days ago. He used the special provision made for COVID-19 patients, officers said.
Ramesh Jarkiholi had remained confined to home after his resignation over allegations of sexual harassment.
