The first phase of elections to the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka culminated more or less peacefully, except for a stray case of violence in Hoskote assembly segment, today. An estimated 51 per cent of 25.7 million voters turned out to vote. During the first phase of elections in 2004, the turnout was 61.4 per cent. However, in some places, the voting continued beyond the official closure time of 5 pm due to the heavy turnout of voters at the last minute. There were no major incidents of violence during the day, according to reports reaching the state election commission, here.
The voting in the three Bangalore constituencies — South, Central and North — was moderate despite a widespread campaign by candidates and political parties to motivate the nearly six million electorate to troop to the polling booths.
The Bangalore South constituency recorded around 50 per cent voting. It has Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary and former Union minister H N Ananth Kumar seeking to be elected elected for the fifth time. He is facing Congress young turk Krishna Byre Gowda and no-frills aviation pioneer G R Gopinath.
Bangalore North, from where former Railways minister C K Jaffer Sharief (Congress) is contesting, was in the third position in Bangalore with around 45 per cent polling. Bangalore Central, from where former police officer H T Sangliana is contesting on the Congress ticket after crossing over from the BJP, was slightly better with around 48 per cent.
The turnout varied from a low of 42 per cent in Raichur to 63.5 per cent in Chikkodi. Nine out of the 17 constituencies recorded less than 50 per cent voting. In all, 13.24 million voters exercised their franchise. Out of 29,126 polling stations, 23 polling stations across the state recorded zero voter turnout. One polling station in Yelahanka under Bangalore North, two stations in Basavanabagewadi, one each in Hiriyur taluk, Karwar and Sirsi, Channapatna, Bhalki, five in Sindanur, six in Gauribidanur did not record any voting. The voters in these polling stations did not come out to vote in protest against non-implementation of development works by the state government.
In 41 polling stations, the electronic voting machines did not function and the election commission replaced those machines within 35 minutes and the polling was conducted thereafter, M N Vidyashankar, chief electoral officer, said.
Briefing reporters, here today, he said a small incident of violence was recorded in Hoskote assembly segment. Two women were beaten up by a person for revealing which candidate they had cast their vote. A case has been registered against the person. The first phase of polls was also marked by the death of a polling officer in Nelamangala under Chikkaballapur constituency.
The EC will carry out the scrutiny of Form No 17A tomorrow and decide on the possibility of conducting repoll in some polling stations, if they find any discrepancies, he said.
The polling was peaceful though at several places people complained of names missing from the voters list though they had election photo identity cards. Polling, which began on a dull note in Bangalore, did not pick up even though weather was pleasant following showers last night.
Of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, the remaining 11 will go to polls in the second phase on April 30.
Meanwhile, the election commission sezed Rs 18 lakh from a house in Chennapatna.
