Bengaluru: Byepolls are underway to Sindgi and Hangal Assembly constituencies. By 3pm 50% polling was done in both the constituencies.

Polling has started at 7 am and will go on till 7 pm. Total 17 candidates are in the fray, in which 13 candidates are contesting in Hangal. Two women candidates are in the fray in the Sindgi constituency.

High decimal campaigns had been seen in both the constituencies. BJP, Congress and JD(S) were exchanged heated arguments during the campaign. More than elections issues, leaders have made a personal attack against each other. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has taken bye-elections as a prestigious battle, as this election has been considered as an acid test to prove his leadership. Since BJP central leadership already announced that 2023 Assembly elections will be faced under his leadership, these bye-elections would be a semi-final to Mr. Bommai is concerned. He and his whole cabinet have been involved in campaigning. On the other hand, Opposition Congress has to try to capitalize the anti-incumbency wave against the ruling BJP at State and Centre. The opposition has raised the failures of the Modi and Bommai government at the Centre and State.

There are a total of 4,39,148 eligible voters, including 230 service voters from both constituencies, who can cast their votes at 560 polling stations. The by-elections have been necessitated as the seats fell vacant following the death of Sindgi JD(S) legislator M C Managuli and BJP's C M Udasi from Hangal.

BJP has fielded Ramesh Bhusanur in Sindgi and Shivaraj Sajjanar in Hangal. Mr. Bhusanur came second in the Sindgi constituency.

The Congress has fielded M C Managuli's son Ashok Managuli, who has joined the party, as its candidate from Sindgi, while former MLC Srinivas Mane is contesting in Hangal from Congress ticket.

This is the first electoral challenge for Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after taking charge. Retaining Hangal is even more important for him as it is the neighbouring constituency to his Shiggaon assembly segment.

The Congress, by ensuring a win, wants to give momentum for its preparations in the run-up to 2023 assembly polls in the state, while the JD(S) is looking to retain the Sindgi seat and thereby prove that it still commands a support base in the northern districts.