Bengaluru: In a major shock to the disqualified MLAs of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the Election Commission (EC), on Saturday, September 21, announced the dates of the by-elections.

The voting process in 15 constituencies will take place on October 21, and the counting process will be held on October 24, according to a notification issued by the EC.

No election will be conducted for now in Kagavada (Shrimantha Patil-Congress) and Ranebennur (Shankar-independent), due to the stay order issued by the court.

It can be recalled that the disqualified MLAs played a crucial role in the fall of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government when they resigned from their respective parties hours before the floor test.

As a result, 15 assembly constituencies in the state have been left vacant. Former Speaker Ramesh Kumar had barred the MLAs from contesting in any elections till 2023.

Afterwards, the rebel MLAs filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging Kumar’s decision.