Karnataka polls: 65% turnout in largely peaceful voting

 

Bangalore, 05 May 2013 (PTI): An estimated 65 per cent of the about 4.36 crore electorate voted in the largely peaceful Assembly polls in Karnataka on Sunday amid projections that the beleaguered ruling BJP was on a sticky wicket against a resurgent Congress.

 

The 7am-to-6pm vote kicked off on a brisk pace initially but appeared to lose steam as the mercury soared before picking up momentum again in the last hours in 223 segments, where a total of 2,940 candidates were in the fray.

 

Election in Periyapatna in Mysore district had been put off to May 28 following the death of the BJP candidate.

 

"Polling was peaceful. We have no reports of poll disruptions," joint chief electoral Officer T Shamaiah told said, adding that polling was 60.68 per cent till 5pm.

 

Election Commission officials said the figure was estimated to be around 65 per cent by the close, but the exact poll percentage is expected later following compilation from all the segments. The counting will be done on May 8.

 

Prominent candidates included chief minister Jagadish Shettar, leader of opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress committee G Parameshwara, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and JD (S) state unit president HD Kumaraswamy.

 

Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements with some 1.35 lakh police personnel on duty in some 52,000 polling booths where about 65,000 electronic voting machines had been installed.

 

Barring sporadic incidents, including one at Bellary, the voting was largely peaceful.

 

Breakaway parties - Karnataka Janatha Paksha of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and BSR Congress formed by former minister B Sriramulu - are projected to dent the prospects of the BJP, already battered by intra-party fights and allegations of corruption.