Karnataka: Phase III of polling begins today

New Delhi: In Karnataka, the third and final phase of polling has started on Thursday. People are to vote in 69 constituencies in the northern districts and over 699 candidates are in the fray.

However, initial trends show that barely 10 per cent of the 1.17 crore voters have cast their votes in the first three hours of polling.

Close to 58,000 security personnel, including Central Paramilitary Forces and Karnataka State Reserve Police have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls.

It's a straight fight between Congress and BJP in most parts. The Congress has three big candidates — Mallikarjun Kharge, Dharam Singh and H K Patil contesting on Thursday.

The BJP, on the other hand is hoping to benefit from projecting B S Yedyurappa as the chief ministerial candidate in the region of Lingayats prediminanance.

KEY CANDIDATES IN PHASE III

Former chief minister, Dharam Singh of the Congress from Jewagi is looking for a ninth straight win.

Also looking for a ninth straight win is Karnataka Congress President, Mallikarjuna Kharge, from Chittapur.

Karnataka JDS President Merajuddin Patel is contesting from Homnabad.

Former minister, Jagdish Shettar of BJP is contesting from Hubli-Dharwad Central

Mining baron Santosh Lad of Congress is contesting from Kalghatgi

Bidar MP Narsingrao Suryavamshi of Congress is contesting from Aurad

Former Minister Bandeppa Kashempur of JDS is contesting from Bidar South

KEY NUMBERS IN PHASE III

69 seats are voting in eight districts of Mumbai-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka.

There are 699 contestants in the fray.

1.17 crore people are eligible to vote.

It's a straight fight between Congress and BJP in most parts.

BELGAUM BATTLE

Only 41 per cent of the total respondents seemed to have any knowledge about Maharashtra's demand for merging Marathi-speaking areas in Belgaum with Maharashtra — an indication perhaps that the linguistic divide has taken a backseat in Karnataka.

Out of the 41 per cent respondents who knew about the Belgaum debate, an overwhelming 58 per cent thought Maharashtra's demand for Belgaum was unjustified. Only 31 per cent felt otherwise.

Here are some of the election promises which BJP made:

	Curbing rising prices
	Rice at Rs 2/kg for poor
	Free power to irrigation pumpsets
	Credit to farmers, weavers & fishermen at 3 pc interest
	Infrastructure development in Bangalore
	Cyber cafes in all villages
	Improve road connectivity
	Crackdown on terror

And the Congress' election promises were:

	Loans at 3% interest for farmers, weavers and fishermen
	Rice at Rs 2/kg for poor
	Free power to agricultural pumpsets
	Subsidies for fertilisers, tractors
	Waiver of housing loans
	Health insurance to all BPL families
	Package for Bangalore's infrastructure
	24-hour uninterrupted power supply
	25 kg rice/month at Rs 2/kg per BPL family
	Free colour TV for the poor

What the JD(S) Promised:

	30 pc reservation for Kannadigas in IT & BT companies
	Complete waiver of loans taken by small and big farmers
	Free medical insurance scheme to BPL card holders
	Launch an 'unceasing agitation' to get classical status for Kannada
	Scrap the Common Entrance Test
	Free stoves and cooking gas to below poverty line families
	Home loan waiver for low income groups
	Developing Bangalore on the lines of Beijing and Shanghai

WHY IS THIS KARNATAKA ELECTION SO IMPORTANT?
	High stakes for both Congress & BJP.
	Congress looking to end string of electoral defeats.
	BJP looking to carry forward Gujarat & Himachal momentum.
	Karnataka to set trend for several state polls later this year.
	Karnataka to create momentum for Lok Sabha polls.
	First major state to vote after UPA's farm loan waiver.
	Karnataka one of the worst-hit states by inflation.