Mysuru: The voting for the by-election for Ward 58 on Sunday which began on slow note started gaining momentum. The turnout was 54 percent till 2pm.
                                                      Voters flash their voter IDs at the polling booth

There are 10 candidates in fray for the by-election, but it will be a triangular fight between Congress candidate GN Manjunath, Congress rebel independent candidate KP Ashwini Ananthu and JD (S) candidate B Manju. The police have made elaborate security arrangements at all the six polling booths. Voting at all the seven booths are being videographed.

The fate of these candidates will be decided by 6126 voters who are exercising their franchise in seven different booths which began at 7 am on Sunday and go on till 5pm. 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.

After sudden demise of R Ananthu, there was a rumor that Congress will give the election ticket to Ashwini, wife of Ananthu to contest in the by-election, but though Ashwini waited for the ticket, at the last minute, Congress party 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. 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 also campaigned for her. BJP has fielded Suresh Raju, while SDPI fielded Amjad Khan.

Ten candidates who are in 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 for Ward no 58 will be held on July 13 at Maharaja Sanskrit School.