The by-elections have been necessitated due to the disqualification of the 14 Congress and 3 Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rebel legislators after they resigned from their respective assembly seats in July.
As many as 248 candidates, including 128 independents are in the fray for the 15 assembly by-elections in Karnataka on December 5, a poll official has said.
"The 248 candidates have filed 353 nominations by November 18 evening, which was the last date for submitting the papers to contest in the by-elections across the state," the poll official told IANS on Monday night.
The nominations will be scrutinised on November 19 and last date of withdrawal is November 21. Vote count is on December 9.