First phase polling ends, low turnout in Bangalore

SHADOW OF GUN: A paramilitary personal stands guard as people wait to cast their votes outside a polling booth.

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Bangalore: An estimated 60 per cent of the 1.73 crore electorate cast their votes on Saturday in the first phase of polls held in 89 Assembly constituencies spread over 11 districts in Karnataka, according to the Election Commission.

While the rural areas saw about 64 per cent of electorate coming out to vote, in the urban areas only 50 per cent of the voters cast their votes.

Polling was very low in Bangalore City (42 per cent) and Bangalore Urban District (44.4).

Bangalore Rural and Hassan reported highest polling of more than 60 per cent each, an Election Commission official said.

Polling was also brisk in Kolar, Ramanagar and Chamarajnagar Assembly constituencies.

Polling was by and large peaceful barring a couple of minor incidents.

Director General of Police (Karnataka) was quoted by UNI as saying that there was a minor scuffle between rival party workers in Arasikere in Hassan district and in Bangalore.

In RT Nagar in the city, the police arrested 30 persons from Andhra Pradesh, who were allegedly brought for bogus voting.

Of the 224 Assembly segments in the state, 66 will go to polls in the second phase on May 16 and the remaining 69 in the third phase on May 22.

Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse a group of persons who apparently were trying to cast bogus votes at Chickpet.

In several areas, voters protested deletion of their names.

Fifty eight thousand security personnel kept a close watch on the polling, which passed off peacefully, official sources said.

The poll prospects of 953 candidates including former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, his brother HD Revanna, union minister Ambarish, former ministers Katta Subramanya Naidu, GT Devegowda, R Ashok, Dr G Parameshwara, former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, N Cheluvarayaswamy, actor Jaggesh and DK Shivakumar were sealed in the EVMs.

Technical snags delaying and disrupting poll process for brief spells were reported from several places.

Karnataka is the first state to go to election under the delimitation of constituencies in the country.

(With agency inputs)