E-Paper
Karnataka Elections: 20.99% polling till 11am; Bengaluru records 18.6%
The report at 11am showed an increase in voter turnout in Karnataka, compared to the last election in 2018 during which only 17% was recorded at 11am.
Karnataka, where the Assembly election are underway, reported 20.9% polling till 11am on Monday, showing an increase in voter turnout, compared to the last election in 2018 during which only 17% was recorded till 11am.
Kampli constituency in Bellari recorded the highest voter turnout so far at 30.75% votes and Belathangady in Dakshina Kannada recorded a 30.52% turnout. In Bengaluru city, the voter turnout was at 18.6%, with BBMP North region reporting 19.3%, South region reporting 19.18%, Central reporting 19.3% and Bengaluru Urban reporting 17.72% voter turnout.
Fifty-two million eligible voters will exercise their franchise on Wednesday to decide the fate of 2,430 candidates in the fray for the Karnataka assembly elections, which saw a high-decibel campaign by all three major parties — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).
Counting of votes across all 224 assembly constituencies will be held on May 13, with each party hoping to cross the magic figure of 113 seats.
While the ruling BJP is relying on extensive campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress hopes that the momentum it has created over the past year will yield results. The JD-S nurses the ambition of becoming the “kingmaker” in case of a fractured verdict.
Over the past 38 years, Karnataka voters have not re-elected an incumbent with the majority, a trend that the BJP is aiming to break.
Instances of verbal arguments between party workers were reported in Gangavathi in Koppal, Kolar town and KR Puram. In Gangavathi, BJP workers and followers of former mining baron Janardhan Reddy got into a verbal duel. When Reddy, who came to stop the fight asked his workers to note down the names of the BJP workers creating a ruckus, the argument escalated further. Later police dispersed the crowd.
In Belagavi’s Gokak, BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi alleged that a gang led by Congress state chief DK Shivakumar was blackmailing many with “fake sex CDs” a day before the election. He alleged that a person called him Tuesday midnight and warned him to stay away from Belagavi Rural constituency where Congress’ Lakshmi Hebbalkar is contesting. “I replied that he would not step back,” he claimed.
However, the Congress dismissed the allegation as a “figment of Jarkiholi’s imagination”.
In Mysuru, the residents of Elligye Hundi, which falls under Chamundeshwari constituency, have threatened to boycott the election citing lack of development. Election Commission officials have approached the villagers asking them to cast their vote.
Meanwhile, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed confidence in the BJP returning to power with an outright majority. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at a government school in Haveri district, Bommai, who is seeking re-election from Shiggaon segment for a fourth consecutive term, said he would win with a record margin. “So is the BJP, which is going to win with a record number of seats. Comfortable majority will be there,” he said.
He said the election is about the development agenda of the BJP versus the “negative and sinister campaign” that the Congress tried to run, adding that the people are always “positive-oriented” and vote for the party for development.
On the other hand, Shivakumar said that the people will vote for change and for a progressive state, and exuded confidence that the party will win 141 Assembly seats. “The young voters are intelligent and talented and they will make a suitable decision. They will remove this corrupt government and elect a Congress government,” he told reporters after offering prayers at the Kekeramma temple before casting his vote in Doddalahalli near Kanakapura town.
“Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had reduced the age of voters from 21 years to 18 years. They will vote for a change, change for a democratic and global Karnataka. They know about the price rise, and corruption in the government and I am sure they will vote for a change,” he added.
