Polling begins in Karnataka

An estimated 2.26 crore eligible electorate are expected to cast their votes through EVMs in 15 Lok Sabha and 120 assembly seats.

An estimated 2.26 crore eligible electorate are expected to cast their votes through EVMs in 15 Lok Sabha and 120 assembly constituencies in the first phase of simultaneous polling that began in Karnataka this morning.

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Authorities have made elaborate security arrangements deploying 43,000-odd police personnel to ensure trouble free polling, as the election atmosphere is found surcharged in the wake of clashes among rival political party workers.

The poll fortunes of former prime minister H D Devegowda (Kanakapura), Union Minister of state for Railway Basanagouda Patil Yatnal (Bijapur), state unit BJP president Ananthkumar (Bangalore South), former railway minister C K Jaffer Sharief (Bangalore North) and nonegenarian K Ramachandra Veerappa bidding for eighth victory from Bidar reserved Lok Sabha constituency would be stored in EVMs.

The stalwarts whose electoral prospects in Assembly polls would be sealed include Chief Minister S M Krishna, contesting from Chamarajpet in Bangalore, his ministerial colleagues, D K Shivakumar (Sathanur) N Dharm Singh (Jewargi), G Parameshwara (Madhugiri), A Krishnappa (Varthur), and Mallikarjun Kharge (Gurumitkal).

Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Koppal, Bellary, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Chikkaballapur, Kolar (Res), Kanakapura, Bangalore North, Bangalore South, Bangalkot and Bijapur Lok Sabha constituencies and 120 assembly segments coming under them are going to polls today.

Election will be held in 13 Lok Sabha and 104 Assembly seats on April 26 in the second phase.