Date for Karnataka by-polls to be out today?
In the wake of Chief Election Commissioners press meet at Delhi today, leaders in Karnataka are hoping that the by-election to the four seats in the state will also be held along with other states during April-May.
FollowAs Chief Election Commissioner is calling a press meet in the evening for announcement of election dates to four states and one union territory, parties in Karnataka also hope that the by-election to seats in Karnataka might also be held simultaneously.
Why by-election in Karnataka?
Three assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat fell vacant. Belagavi LS seat fell vacant following the death of Union Minister Suresh Angadi due to Covid-19.
Similarly, Basavakalyana seat fell vacant after Congress MLA B Narayan Rao and Sindagi JD (S) MLA MC Managuli died due to Covid infection. And Maski seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Pratap Gouda Patil  defected to BJP.
BJP hopeful for clean sweep:
After the by-election results on December 9, 2019 in which the BJP won 12 out of 15 seats, it hopes to make it a clean sweep in the upcoming by-election. As all the seats are in North Karnataka belt which is believed to be BJP stronghold.
BJP has an emotional card to play in Belagavi LS due to death of Suresh Angadi. And with dwindling support base in Bidar district for Congress and BJP in power both at Center and state, the ruling BJP has an edge in Basavakalyana.
Similarly in Sindagi, as JD(S) won by fluke in 2018, this is traditionally BJP belt, the saffron party hopes to win in the by-election.
At Maski, the follower of cabinet minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, Pratap Gouda Patil defected to BJP and is hopeful of winning the seat with his patron's support.
