The Election Commission in Karnataka issued a notification setting in motion the process for bye-elections in eight assembly constituencies slated for December 27.
The bypolls were necessitated after four JD-S and three Congress MLAs resigned their membership and joined ruling BJP and the death of M S Siddaraju (JDS) from Maddur assembly constituency.
Election is being held in Hukkeri, Arabhavi, Devadurga (ST), Karwar, Turvekere, Doddaballapur, Maddur and Madhugiri.
Balachandra Jarakhiholi (Arabhavi),Umesh V Katti (Hukkeri), Shivanagouda Naik (Devadurga), Anand Asnotikar (Karwar) who quit JD-S and joined BJP have been inducted into the ministry by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and will be seeking re-election.
R Jaggesh (Cong)- Turuvekere, J Narasimhaswamy (Cong) -Doddaballapur B C Gowrishankar (JDS)- Madhugiri were the others to resign their assembly membership. Jaggesh and Gowrishankar have opted out of contest.