Mysuru: A triangular fight is all set to take place in the by-election for Ward No 58 on July 10 between Congress candidate GN Manjunath, independent candidate KP Ashwini Ananthu and JD (S) candidate B Manju. A total of ten candidates will fight the elections and the results are scheduled to be announced on July 13.
                                          Electronic voting machines being set for the Ward no 58 by-election

The fate of the candidates will be decided by 6126 voters who will be exercising their voting power in seven different booths between 7am and 5pm on Sunday. Among 6126 voters, 40 percent of them are Muslims. Ward No 58 includes Raghavendra Nagar and areas around Kendriya Vidyalaya which falls under Narasimharaja Assembly constituency represented by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait. Voting at all the seven booths are being videographed.

After the sudden demise of R Ananthu, there was a rumor that the Congress will give the election ticket to Ashwini, wife of Ananthu to contest in the by-election. Ashwini waited for the ticket, but at the last minute, the Congress gave the ticket to GN Manjunath who is a close confidant of Minister Tanveer Sait. Upset with the development, Ashwini decided to contest as a rebel candidate. The BJP has little hold in the ward and the fight is directly between Congress candidate GN Manjunath, JD (S) candidate B Manju and the independent candidate Ashwini Ananthu. Ashwini is banking on sympathy vote and also on the good work done by Ananthu. Ashwini is also a close relative of Melkote MLA KS Puttanaiah who is also campaigning for her. BJP has fielded Suresh Raju, while SDPI fielded Amjad Khan.

Clashes took place under the presence of Minister Tanveer Sait recently between the supporters of Congress candidate GN Manjunath and Congress rebel candidate Ashwini Ananthu when they came face to face during the election campaign.

The ten candidates who are in the fray are GN Manjunath of Congress, B Manju of JD(S), N. Suresh of BJP, Amjad Khan of SDPI, independents K.P Ashwini Ananthu, Nayaz Ahmed, Nazim Pasha, Salim Khan, N. Srinivas and Abdul Baig.

Counting for the by-election will be held on July 13 at Maharaja Sanskrit School.