Bengaluru: The voting for the crucial and much-awaited by-polls took off in a rather sluggish manner on December 5. However, a voter turnout of 31.02 per cent was recorded till 1 p.m. in the 15 Assembly seats in Karnataka in the third round of polling, the Election Commission said on Thursday. The voter turnout, which stood at a meager 6.6 percent at 9 am shot up to 17 per cent by 11.30 am.
The constituency-wise voting percentage at 1 p.m- 40.89 in Athani, 37.72 in Kagwad, 37.37 in Gokak, 41.72 in Yellapur and 38.63 in Hirekeru. In Ranibennur, the voting percentage was 36.09, while in Vijayanagara 34.95 per cent, 39.03 per cent was recorded in Chikkaballapur, 14.44 per cent in K.R. Pura, 27.29 per cent in Yeshwantpura, 22.71 per cent in Mahalakshmi Layout and 12.79 per cent in Shivajinagar. In Hosakote, 33.24 per cent voting was recorded, 39.47 per cent in Krishnarajapete and 38.20 per cent in Husunuru, the Election Commission said.
The fourth round of polling has been scheduled at 3 p.m., followed by round 5 at 5 p.m. First, second and third rounds of polling were held at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Election Commission said.
Voting is underway in 15 constituencies across the state and the voting booths will be open till 6 pm.
The Karnataka by-elections were necessitated after the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs, whose rebellion led to the collapse of the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July and paved the way for the BJP to come to power. By-elections are being held in Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapura, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijaynagara, Chickballapura, K.R. Pura, Yeshwanthpura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagara, Hosakote, K.R. Pete and Hunsur Assembly seats.
Constituency-wise voting percentage at 9 a.m. was 8.33 in Athani, 6.94 in Kagwad, 6.11 in Gokak, 7.54 in Yellapur and 5.59 in Hirekeru.
In Ranibennur, the voting percentage was 6.22, 6.5 per cent in Vijayanagara, 6.91 per cent in Chikkaballapur, 6.15 per cent in K. R. Pura, 4.19 per cent in Yeshwantpura, 8.21 per cent in Mahalakshmi Layout and 3.04 per cent in Shivajinagar.
In Hosakote, 9.01 per cent voting was recorded, 6.2 per cent in Krishnarajapete and 6.18 per cent in Husunuru, the election commission said.
*Most of the candidates cast their votes in the morning and expressed their confidence in winning the elections.
*In Chikkaballapur the episode of 110 members from the same family casting votes left eyebrows raised.
*Chikkaballapur BJP candidate K Sudhakar said that the ‘exile’ of 140 days of the rebel MLAs will end soon.
*In Athani and in Ranibennur, a few individuals clicked pictures of them casting their votes and also videographed the process of casting the votes. Such actions are against the Code of Conduct and such individuals can be put behind the bars.
*Gokak is witnessing a nail-biting fight between Jarakiholi brothers-Ramesh and Lakhan. Ramesh spearheaded the rebel movement which led to the fall of the coalition government.
*In KR Pete, JDS candidate Devaraj was seen turning the EVM claiming that the former positioning of the EVM was against ‘Vaastu’. Meanwhile, BJP candidate Narayan Gowda offered prayers to EVM before casting vote!
*In Hunsuru, H Vishwanath of the BJP cast his vote and said that he has come before the ‘people’s court’ and he was confident that the people’s court will uphold his rights.
*In Yeshwantpura, Congress candidate P Nagaraj carried mobile phone into the polling booth. Just before casting vote, he disconnected the phone call.
*Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha Chief Vatal Nagaraj, who is contesting from Mahalakshmi Layout said that he is contesting the elections to win because there is no one like him.
