‘Confident that people of Channapatna will bless me’: Nikhil Kumaraswamy as polling underway for by-polls

CHANNAPATNA: National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from Channapatna by-polls, Nikhil Kumaraswamy said on Wednesday that the youth is with him and he is confident that the people will bless him.

The voting on Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna seats in Karnataka is underway today and the results for the respective seats will be announced on November 23. These seats were vacant after the resignation of the respective candidates.

Speaking to ANI, Nikhil said, “From the last 18 days, people have given me confidence. I am very confident today that the work done by HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy will come in handy for my victory. The youth is with me…I am confident that the people of Channapatna will bless me.”

#WATCH | Karnataka: Channapatna Assembly by-elections: JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy says “From the last 18 days, people have given me confidence. I am very confident today that the work done by HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy will come in handy for my victory. The youth is with… https://t.co/lbFkIsEbAj pic.twitter.com/8mD0SVSeFS

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024

Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is also the JD(S) State Youth Unit President, is competing against CP Yogeshwara, who joined the Congress after resigning as BJP MLC recently.

Notably, HD Kumaraswamy (HDK) defeated Yogeeshwara in the 2018 and 2023 assembly polls from the seat. The seat fell vacant after HDK won from the Mandya parliamentary segment in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, the Channapatna seat recorded a voter turnout of 10.34 per cent till 9 am, as per the Election Commission data. Other seats like Shiggaon and Sandur recorded 10.8 and 10.11 per cent of voting respectively.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Channapatna Assembly by-elections: JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy offers prayers at Kengal Anjaneya Swamy Temple, in Channapatna before casting his vote. pic.twitter.com/hAFc3GYtZk

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024

Voting also began this morning in the by-elections for 31 assembly seats across 10 states including the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for polling, which will continue until 5.00 pm. It will end at 4.00 pm at 950 sensitive booths spread across 31 constituencies. Over 200 companies of security forces have been deployed at strategic locations to maintain order and safeguard the electoral process.

The assembly seats where bypolls are being held on Wednesday include seven in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, and five in Assam among others. Bypolls will be held for West Bengal’s six assembly seats: Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai, and Madarihat. In Assam, polling will be held for the Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon, Sidli, and Dholai seats. (ANI)