The keenly contested Karnataka Assembly polls on Saturday witnessed 70 per cent turnout as compared to 71.03 per cent in 2013 Assembly polls which had given a decisive mandate to the Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government in the State.
In 2008 elections, the Assembly polls had recorded 64.78 per cent voting when the BS Yeddyurappa-led Government was formed as the first BJP Government in the southern State. Bengaluru voters have shown their apathy to the poll process with just around 49.5 per cent polling.
The elections were held in 222 constituencies for the 224-member Assembly.
Jayanagara constituency in Bengaluru has been countermanded due to the death of BJP candidate Vijayakumar. The Election Commission (EC) also deferred polling in Rajarajeswari Assembly seat in Bengaluru to May 28 after the recent seizure of nearly 10,000 fake voter cards. The counting will be held on May 31.
According to State Election Commissioner Sanjiv Kumar, the elections were held in very peaceful manner barring very minor incidents across the State. He said 164 polling units, 157 control units and 470 VVPATs had mechanical problems and were replaced. The EVM failures were within prescribed limits, he added.
Polling was extended by one hour for the Assembly elections in view of the heat wave conditions, mostly in Northern Karnataka. The counting would take place on May 15.
Ramanagaram, from where former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy is contesting, witnessed the highest voting percentage of 65 per cent till 3 pm followed by Udupi and Bengaluru Rural districts that cloaked 62 per cent each.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who cast his vote in his village Siddaramanahundi in Mysuru district exuded confidence that the Congress will gain majority and win more seats than 122 it had managed during 2013 polls.
At least five persons died in different incidents during the polling. While two women were killed in a three-wheeler accident in Hassan districts, three others died of heart attack after casting their votes.
The 600 ‘pink booths’, which were manned by all-women personnel, were a super hit and people appreciated the Election Commission’s gesture. It was a riot of colours as these booths were painted in pink and red and pink balloons and pink festoons adored the entrance.
The EC had also set up special booths exclusively for tribals at various places including Nagapura on the fringes of the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Mysuru district.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah after casting his vote told the media that he would form the Government in the State. When asked about Yeddyurappa’s claim of forming the Government on May17 he shot back and said “he must be mentally unstable”.