The month-long wait by the ruling BJP, opposition Congress and JD(S) for the outcome of the April 13 bye-elections to three assembly constituencies in Karnataka will end tomorrow when counting of votes begin.
The bye-polls, held on April 9, were forced on Chennapatna, Jagalur (ST) and Bangarpet (SC) constituencies following the defection of a JD(S) and two Congress MLAs to BJP. Thirty three aspirants are in the fray.
The ruling BJP, which has a strength of 106 members in the 224-member house, hopes to increase its tally and had campaigned vigorously. Congress and JD(S) had also left no stone unturned to win these seats. About 75 per cent of an estimated 493,000 electorate had exercised their votes in the election.
The Assembly still has 17 seats vacant as a result of disqualification of 16 MLAs and following the resignation of a JD(S) member Karadi Sanganna from Koppal.