Bengaluru: Amid allegations of voter inducement in elections to four Karnataka Legislative Council seats scheduled for Friday, three incumbent MLCs — two from BJP and one from Congress — are hoping to retain their seats, while candidates in the South-East Graduates’ constituency are seeking their maiden victory.Five-time MLC Puttanna (Congress) in Bengaluru Teachers’, four-time MLC Shashil G Namoshi (BJP) in North-East Teachers’, and two-time MLC SV Sankanur (BJP) in West Graduates’ constituencies face stiff competition.In South-East Graduates’, BJP’s KM Suresh and Congress candidate TR Shashidhar, popularly known as Shashi Hulikuntemutt, are seeking their first victories. Eight other candidates are also in the fray.Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance have concluded their intensive campaigns across all four constituencies, with party workers making a final push to mobilise voters Thursday till late in the night.In Bengaluru Teachers’, JD(S) candidate AP Ranganath is challenging Puttanna, who has won the seat five times. NDA workers are reaching out to voters seeking support for Ranganath. Four other candidates are also contesting.Congress is making concerted efforts to defeat Namoshi through Sharanappa Mathur in North-East Teachers’ and Sankanur through Mohan Limbikai in West Graduates’. The West Graduates’ constituency has 14 candidates, while 13 are in the fray in North-East Teachers’.Polling will be held from 8am to 4pm Friday. Govt has declared a holiday for eligible teachers and graduates to exercise their franchise but most private educational institutions in these constituencies are expected to function with teachers who are not voters. Counting will take place on Tuesday.Bengaluru Teachers’ has 27,456 voters, while North-East Teachers’ has 34,784. West Graduates’ has 97,402 voters, and South-East Graduates’ has 1,83,893.Meanwhile, legislative council opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy Thursday accused Congress MLC Puttanna of allegedly distributing coupons and other gifts to voters under the pretext of Dasara greetings.An NDA delegation led by Narayanaswamy submitted a complaint to Election Commission office in Bengaluru, seeking action against Puttanna.Narayanaswamy alleged gift coupons linked to a Bengaluru mall were being distributed through 17 block education officers (BEOs). He also claimed that voters were offered flasks, cash-filled envelopes and tiffin boxes to influence the election. He alleged that numbers printed on the flasks indicated amounts of Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000.Meanwhile, sources said workers from both Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance were allegedly distributing gifts and cash to secure voters’ support. The items reportedly included sarees, tiffin boxes, water bottles and wristwatches.Districts going to pollsConstituencyFemaleBengaluru Teachers’18,192North East Teachers’14,744South East Graduates’79,797West Graduates’40,056Source: ECI
