Karnataka By-election 2019 LIVE: 31.02% voter turnout in third round of polling at 1 pm

The fate of the BS Yediyurappa government would be decided soon as 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka are undergoing their crucial by-elections. Voting began at 7am on Thursday and would wrap up by 6pm. Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagar, Chikballapur, KR Puram, Yeshwanthpur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Hoskote, KR Pet and Hunsur are the constituencies that are undergoing the Karnataka by-elections. The results of the elections would be declared on December 9.

The BS Yediyurappa government came to power after dethroning the JDS-Congress coalition government. These seats were vacant after the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and JDS MLAs. The BJP needs to win at least six of these 15 seats to remain in majority in the 225-member assembly.

Follow the updates here:

1:55pm: The voter turnout was recorded 31.02 per cent in the 15 assembly seats in Karnataka in the third round of polling: Election Commission

1:40pm: According to Secretariat of the Election Commission of India, in the third round of voting at 1 pm, the voter turnout in Yellapur constituency was recorded 40.89 per cent. Here is a list of voter turnout  for the 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka till 1 pm:

Karnataka: Latest voter-turnout figures for the 15 assembly constituencies in the state, that are up for by-polls. #KarnatakaBypollspic.twitter.com/GkfwiRaGMW

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

1:35pm:  Shivajinagar constituency has recorded the least voter turnout with merely 12.79 per cent till 12 pm.

1:30 pm: Till now, the highest voter turnout is recorded in Yellapur constituency with 23.87 per cent, followed by Athani constituency with 23.1 per cent voter turnout.

1:20 pm: The estimated voter turnout in Karnataka was recorded 18.24 per cent, according to Election Commission of India

11:40 am: BBMP has made special arrangements to help senior citizens, disabled & visually impaired voters.

BBMP has made special arrangements to help senior citizens, disabled & visually impaired voters at polling stations in the 4 Assembly constituencies going to polls today in #Bengaluru. @ceo_karnataka#BBMP#BBMP#ECI#ElectionCommission#AllToPollpic.twitter.com/Dg87q5kzcC

— B.H.Anil Kumar,IAS (@BBMPCOMM) December 5, 2019

11:30 am: An estimated 6.06% of voting took place during the first 2 hours.

#KarnatakaBypolls: An estimated 6.06% of voting took place during the first 2 hours since polling began in 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka. Hoskote constituency is leading with a voter turnout of 9% and while the lowest was in Shivajinagar with 3.04 percent.@IndianExpresspic.twitter.com/Qa8SpQrRQ2

— Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) December 5, 2019

11:00 am: EVM malfunctions reported at two booths -- booth number 99 in Athani constituency and booth number 49 in Bhuvanahalli, Hoskote constituency.

10:45 am: Karnataka Congress President, Dinesh Gundu Rao: Today the price of onions is so high that if you buy a lot of onions in bulk, you may get an income tax notice. Petrol prices, diesel prices, onion prices all have hit the roof.

10:29 am: Dinesh Gundu Rao, Congress: It is an example of what BJP is doing. They don't have any confidence in their leaders, they are just trying to poach our leaders. They pressurised Vasanth Kumar but he came back to us. They should stop these poaching tactics.

10:28 am: R Vasanth Kumar, Corporator: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders took me to the Chief Minister's residence all of a sudden and made me join BJP.

10:25 am: R Vasanth Kumar, Corporator, who joined BJP from Congress two days ago, rejoins Congress.

Bengaluru: R Vasanth Kumar, Corporator, who joined BJP from Congress two days ago, rejoins Congress. #Karnatakapic.twitter.com/tz8OMH6qJe

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

10:20 am: Voting in Gokak assembly constituency.

Belagavi (Gokak): Voting underway at a polling station for by-poll to Gokak Assembly Constituency. #KarnatakaByelectionpic.twitter.com/rtqRLS8Squ

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

10:15 am: Arun Kumar Guttur casts his vote.

#KarnatakaByelection: BJP candidate from Ranebennur Assembly constituency, Arun Kumar Guttur casts his vote at a polling station at Kodiyala Hospet in Ranebennur. pic.twitter.com/WmxLAGbP8P

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

10:10 am: People queue up to vote.

#KarnatakaByelection: People queue up at a polling station in Hoskote, to cast their votes. pic.twitter.com/Q0uxLb6Txv

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

10:00 am: Visuals from voting in Bengaluru.

#Bengaluru: Voting for by-election to Shivaji Nagar Constituency, underway at BBMP PU College and High School, Tasker Town. #KarnatakaByelectionpic.twitter.com/IQ3sL07l7G

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019