Photos: Pink booths to third-generation EVMs as Karnataka votes today
Karnataka went to polls on Saturday after a series of high-stakes campaigns that saw the Congress and the BJP deploy their top national leaders Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, respectively, in the state. From all-women managed ‘Pink Booths’ to the use of third generation Electronic Voting Machines, the assembly elections in 2018 were marked by several firsts.
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A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Bengaluru on Saturday. According to the election commission, as of 3pm, the voting percentage in the elections had reached 53% as voters lined up to choose their representatives after a high-stakes campaign. From all-women managed ‘pink booths’ to the use of third generation Electronic Voting Machines, the assembly elections in 2018 were marked by several firsts. (Aijaz Rahi / AP)
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People queue outside a polling station to cast their vote at the Government College of Pharmacy in Bengaluru. The polling which began at 7 am at 58,546 polling stations in 222 seats, will conclude at 6pm. The Karnataka Legislative assembly has 224 seats but elections in two constituencies, Jayanagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar, both in Bengaluru, have been postponed. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)
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A voter tears off the part of slip containing the Congress party symbol at Abdul Bari's English Primary and High School in Bengaluru. The election in Karnataka is considered crucial for both the BJP and the Congress. The BJP is bidding to oust the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka and is looking to come back to power in assembly elections with B.S. Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)
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Towards being more women-oriented, 450 “pink booths” called ‘Sakhi’ have been set up for the elections this year. They are entirely managed by women, right from the returning officer to the security personnel, the sources said. The EC has set up ethnic polling booths in Mysuru, Chamarajnagar and Uttar Kannada districts where polling booths match the lifestyle of tribal masses living there. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)
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