Mysuru:  The counting for much-awaited bypoll for Nanjangud and Gundulpet begun at 8am today. Currently the Congress party is leading in both the Assembly segments.

Meanwhile elaborate security arrangements are in place at both the centres.

In Nanjangud the contest is between BJP candidate Srinivas Prasad and Congress candidate Kalale Keshavamurthy while in Gundulpet it is between Congress candidate Geetha Mahadeva Prasad and BJP candidate Niranjan.

The by-poll in Gundlupet and Nanjangud was necessitated following the death of cooperation minister H S Mahadev Prasad in January and resignation of ex-Congress leader and revenue minister Srinivas Prasad respectively. Prasad is contesting in the bypolls on a BJP ticket against Congress candidate Kalale Keshavamurthy.

Trends (votes)

Nanjangud

Congress – 72,568

BJP – 54,399

Gundlupet

Congress – 81,101

BJP – 69,847