 "Single phase polling in Karnataka sees 65% turnout")
Polling for the single-phase elections in the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies of Karnataka was 65 per cent.
In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the average voter turnout was 58.8 per cent.
Voting began early on Thursday on a brisk note across all 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, and was by and large peaceful. Minor untoward incidents were reported at several places.
An estimated 46 million (46,211,844) were eligible to cast their votes across the 28 constituencies in Karnataka. The highest polling of 75 per cent was reported in the Dakshina Kannada constituency while Gulbarga witnessed the lowest voter turnout of 51 per cent.
According to Anil Kumar Jha, chief electoral officer, Karnataka, two poll officials died in Tumkur and Belgaum districts during the polling from chest pain and heart attack. Death of five voters was also reported at various places after casting their votes. A drunken voter damaged the EVM in Nelamangala taluk. Later, the election commission replaced the EVM and facilitation continuation of voting.
In Anekal taluk of Bangalore Rural constituency, group clashes were reported and as a result of this, a control unit of an EVM was damaged. The police arrested three persons and booked a case against them. In Gadag taluk, a case of impersonation was reported.
A presiding officer was suspended in Harohalli of Kolar district for changing the direction of the ballot boxes. Later, the poll official was replaced and allowed for continuation of polling. This incident occurred at a booth, where sitting MP K H Muniyappa ordered his supporters to change the direction of the ballot box.
Polling was boycotted at some polling stations in Turuvekere, Aurad, Bhalki, Bidar, Chamarajanagar, Karwar, Sirsi as the villagers complained of the lack of infrastructure facilities and incomplete irrigation projects in their region.
An incidence of stone pelting at the election booth was reported in Yadagir district. After the polling commenced, 93 EVMs had to be replaced due to technical snag.
When the voting began this morning at 7 am, voters were seen queuing up outside several polling booths across the state.
For the first time, the Election Commission (EC) used on an experimental basis the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines across all 1,926 polling stations in Bangalore South constituency. Due to malfunction the EC had to replace 55 such machines in Bangalore South.
Due to technical snags, voting did not take place in two polling stations in Sringeri and Govindarajnagar assembly segments. The EC is likely to hold repelling in these two booths, Jha said.
With more than 16 candidates contesting in 11 constituencies, two ballot units were used in their respective booths.
Bangalore North constituency has the largest electorate — 2.39 million voters, while Udupi-Chickmagalur in the coastal area has the least number of voters — 1.39 million. Bangalore Central, however, had the highest number of candidates (26) in the fray while Gulbarga reserved seat has the minimum — five contestants.
Among the four constituencies of Bangalore, the South reported 55 per cent, North 52 per cent, Central 55 per cent and the Rural has seen the highest 68 per cent voting. Among other constituencies, Bellary, Chikkodi, Tumkur, Chamarajanagar reported 71 per cent polling each. Chikkaballapur had 73 per cent, Shimoga 70 per cent, Udupi-Chikmagalur 72 per cent, Hassan 72 per cent. Davanagere, Mandya and Kolar witnessed 69 per cent each. The remaining constituencies like Haveri saw 68 per cent, Dharwad 66 per cent, Koppal 64 per cent, Uttara Kannada 65 per cent, Mysore 66 per cent, Belgaum 63 per cent, Bagalkot 63.2 per cent, Bidar 58 per cent, Raichur 54 per cent, Bijapur 55 per cent.
Voters in Koppa village of Sagar taluk in Shimoga district boycotted the polling in protest against shifting of the polling booth.
Because of the sweltering heat, voters stayed away from the polling booths for most part of the day and brisk polling was reported towards the evening and early hours in the morning.
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his wife Chennamma cast their vote in Hassan, former Union Minister M Veerappa Moily voted in Chikkaballapur and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa cast his vote in Shimoga.
H N Ananth Kumar and Nandan Nilekani who are locked in a tough fight voted in Bangalore South. Infosys chief N R Narayanamurthy and his family members cast their votes in J P Nagar of Bangalore South. Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekar Kambar and his wife voted in Banashankari.
In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the average voter turnout was 58.8 per cent.
Voting began early on Thursday on a brisk note across all 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, and was by and large peaceful. Minor untoward incidents were reported at several places.
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The political fate of 434 candidates, including 195 independents and 21 women, in all 28 parliamentary seats, including five reserved for Dalits (SCs) and two for Tribals (STs) were sealed inside the electronic voting machines (EVM).
An estimated 46 million (46,211,844) were eligible to cast their votes across the 28 constituencies in Karnataka. The highest polling of 75 per cent was reported in the Dakshina Kannada constituency while Gulbarga witnessed the lowest voter turnout of 51 per cent.
According to Anil Kumar Jha, chief electoral officer, Karnataka, two poll officials died in Tumkur and Belgaum districts during the polling from chest pain and heart attack. Death of five voters was also reported at various places after casting their votes. A drunken voter damaged the EVM in Nelamangala taluk. Later, the election commission replaced the EVM and facilitation continuation of voting.
In Anekal taluk of Bangalore Rural constituency, group clashes were reported and as a result of this, a control unit of an EVM was damaged. The police arrested three persons and booked a case against them. In Gadag taluk, a case of impersonation was reported.
A presiding officer was suspended in Harohalli of Kolar district for changing the direction of the ballot boxes. Later, the poll official was replaced and allowed for continuation of polling. This incident occurred at a booth, where sitting MP K H Muniyappa ordered his supporters to change the direction of the ballot box.
Polling was boycotted at some polling stations in Turuvekere, Aurad, Bhalki, Bidar, Chamarajanagar, Karwar, Sirsi as the villagers complained of the lack of infrastructure facilities and incomplete irrigation projects in their region.
An incidence of stone pelting at the election booth was reported in Yadagir district. After the polling commenced, 93 EVMs had to be replaced due to technical snag.
When the voting began this morning at 7 am, voters were seen queuing up outside several polling booths across the state.
For the first time, the Election Commission (EC) used on an experimental basis the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines across all 1,926 polling stations in Bangalore South constituency. Due to malfunction the EC had to replace 55 such machines in Bangalore South.
Due to technical snags, voting did not take place in two polling stations in Sringeri and Govindarajnagar assembly segments. The EC is likely to hold repelling in these two booths, Jha said.
With more than 16 candidates contesting in 11 constituencies, two ballot units were used in their respective booths.
Bangalore North constituency has the largest electorate — 2.39 million voters, while Udupi-Chickmagalur in the coastal area has the least number of voters — 1.39 million. Bangalore Central, however, had the highest number of candidates (26) in the fray while Gulbarga reserved seat has the minimum — five contestants.
Among the four constituencies of Bangalore, the South reported 55 per cent, North 52 per cent, Central 55 per cent and the Rural has seen the highest 68 per cent voting. Among other constituencies, Bellary, Chikkodi, Tumkur, Chamarajanagar reported 71 per cent polling each. Chikkaballapur had 73 per cent, Shimoga 70 per cent, Udupi-Chikmagalur 72 per cent, Hassan 72 per cent. Davanagere, Mandya and Kolar witnessed 69 per cent each. The remaining constituencies like Haveri saw 68 per cent, Dharwad 66 per cent, Koppal 64 per cent, Uttara Kannada 65 per cent, Mysore 66 per cent, Belgaum 63 per cent, Bagalkot 63.2 per cent, Bidar 58 per cent, Raichur 54 per cent, Bijapur 55 per cent.
Voters in Koppa village of Sagar taluk in Shimoga district boycotted the polling in protest against shifting of the polling booth.
Because of the sweltering heat, voters stayed away from the polling booths for most part of the day and brisk polling was reported towards the evening and early hours in the morning.
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his wife Chennamma cast their vote in Hassan, former Union Minister M Veerappa Moily voted in Chikkaballapur and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa cast his vote in Shimoga.
H N Ananth Kumar and Nandan Nilekani who are locked in a tough fight voted in Bangalore South. Infosys chief N R Narayanamurthy and his family members cast their votes in J P Nagar of Bangalore South. Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekar Kambar and his wife voted in Banashankari.