Bengaluru, Nov 13 (Reporter) The voter turnout in the by-elections to three Assembly constituencies of Karnataka rose to over 61 percent by 3 pm on Wednesday, election officials reported. The estimated overall polling percentage was 61.81 percent eight hours after polling started at 7 AM, according to the Election Commission of India. Channapatna constituency led the voter turnout at 67.63 per cent, followed by Shiggaon at 59.62 per cent, and Sandur at 58.27 per cent. Earlier, polling commenced at 7 am across 770 stations and will continue until 6 pm, with results anticipated on November 23. The by-elections were necessitated following the election of JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai (BJP), and Congress MLA E Tukaram to the Lok Sabha, resulting in vacancies in these segments. More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in these constituencies, where a total of 45 candidates are vying for the seats. Channapatna’s contest is high-profile, with JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Kumaraswamy and grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, facing Congress’s five-time MLA and former minister C P Yogeeshwara, who recently switched from BJP to Congress. After voting, Yogeeshwara expressed confidence in a favourable outcome, citing strong local support. In Shiggaon, BJP’s Bharath Bommai, son of former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, is contending against Congress’s Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan. Basavaraj Bommai voiced confidence in his son’s prospects, accusing Congress of misusing government resources in the campaign. In Sandur, Congress’s E Annapurna, wife of Bellary MP Tukaram, is running against BJP’s Bangaru Hanumanthu, who has close ties to former mining baron G Janardhan Reddy. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who campaigned extensively in all three constituencies, expressed optimism about a Congress sweep. Security has been tightened across the segments, ensuring peaceful polling. Many senior citizens, despite mobility issues, were seen arriving in wheelchairs, demonstrating their dedication to civic duty...////...