Wednesday, June 1 2005 18:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure trouble free polling in Shimoga Parliamentary and Chamarajpet Assembly constituency,which go to bye-election in Karnataka tomorrow (Jun 2, 2005).

An estimated 12.83-lakh eligible electorate would decide the poll fate of seven candidates including former Chief Minister S Bangarappa, who is seeking re-election as Samajwadi Party (SP) nominee in Shimoga. Sixteen candidates are in the fray in Chamarajpet assembly constituency, which has 1.05 lakh eligible voters.

All the key players, Congress, Janata Dal Secular (JDS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and SP have attached much significance to the poll and are trying to win both the seats.

For Bangarappa, who resigned from BJP and gave up his Lok Sabha membership, it is a battle for his political survival, as Congress and BJP have worked hard to outwit him.

This is the second bye-election being held in the State after the coalition Government assumed office. In the first by-poll held to the Bidar Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress won the seat.

Singh undertook vigorous campaign for about nine days in the entire Shimoga constituency attacking Bangarappa for forcing the bye-election and appealing the electorate to teach a lesson to those playing "opportunistic politics".

Setting aside their ruling agreement, Congress and JDS have also been fighting this election fiercely to outsmart each other.