70% voter turnout recorded in Karnataka Assembly elections; exit polls predict hung assembly
Karnataka voted to elect a new Assembly in a three-cornered contest on Saturday.
An estimated 70% of the over 4.96 crore voters exercised their franchise to choose a new Karnataka Assembly in one of the most high-profile and bitterly fought elections in the recent times. A voter turnout of 71.4% was recorded in the previous Assembly elections in 2013.
The percentage may go up as voters were standing in queues to cast their votes beyond the 6 pm deadline, state election office said. Under election rules, voters who join the queue before the expiry of the deadline, are allowed to exercise their franchise.
Polling was held for 222 of the state's 224 constituencies following the countermanding of election for the Jayanagara seat due to the death of BJP candidate B N Vijaykumar, and deferment of voting for R R Nagar seat over allegations of electoral malpractices. The polling began at 58,546 polling stations each, equipped with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), and concluded at 6 pm.
A total of 2,654 candidates are in the fray and 4.96-crore electorate, including 2.44 crore women, will cast their votes. Over 15 lakh people are first-time voters in the 18-19 age group.
Tight security was put in place to ensure smooth and peaceful polling across the 224 assembly constituencies spread across 30 districts.
There were reports of malfunctioning of EVMs from some polling stations, and minor clashes between Congress and BJP supporters. The two parties also accused each other of inducing voters.
While the ruling Congress and the BJP are the main contenders for power, former prime minister HD Deve Gowdas JD(S) is expected to be the dark horse to look out for. Pollsters have forecast a hung Assembly, with a close contest between Congress and BJP. D(S), though projected to finish a distant third, is likely to play a crucial role in government formation in the event of a fractured mandate.
No party in Karnataka has won a second successive term in office since 1985 when the Janata Dal under Ramakrishna Hegde had retained power.
The Congress is aiming at retaining the only large state it rules after Punjab, while the BJP is striving to form its government in Karnataka, which party president Amit Shah said will be its “gateway to south”, for a second time.
The BJP had ruled the state between 2008 and 2013, the only time it did so, but its tenure was marred by intra-party feuds and allegations of corruption. One of its three chief ministers and its current CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa was in jail over corruption charges.
Here are highlights of the polling day:
Latest Updates
Total turnout figure received so far is 70%, says Election Commission
Bengaluru: Re-polling to take place in Hebbal constituency's polling station number 2 after polling was stopped due to EVM failure
56% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm, reports news agency ANI
Picking up momentum, 37 percent voting was recorded in Karnataka up to 1 pm today in the 222 assembly constituencies. The Assembly polls, which began at 7 a.m. at 58,546 polling stations, each equipped with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), will conclude at 6 pm. Earlier in the day, a faulty VVPAT machine was replaced in Hubli, which had stalled the voting.
It is a sensitive polling booth & the clash between BJP and Congress workers happened within 100 meters of the booth. We will investigate and take further action: Ravi Channannavar, Bengaluru DCP
JDS has distributed a lot of money, their candidate says he is a society secretary, so from where did he get so much money? Also, BJP is openly supporting JDS, they have put up a dummy candidate here: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Chamundeshwari constituency
Clashes broke out between Congress and BJP workers outside a polling booth in Hampi Nagar. The incident happened allegedly after the former thrashed a BJP corporator. 'Our corporator Anand was attacked but police isn't taking any action,’ Ravindra, Vijayanagar BJP candidate was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde casts his vote at a polling booth in Bengaluru. Hegde says, 'Over the years, I feel that malpractices have increased. Distribution of sarees. alcohol, dhotis and cookers have come out in open. It is not a good sign in democracy.'
Karnataka Elections 2018 brand ambassador Rahul Dravid cast his vote in Bengaluru
HD Kumaraswamy and wife Anitha cast their votes in Ramanagara. Kumaraswamy told media, 'We are confident that JDS will cross the magic number on its own'
24% voter turnout recorded till 11 am
Sri Sri Ravishankar casts his vote at a polling booth in Kanakapura
Moorusavir Math's Gurusidda Rajayogindra Mahaswami casts his vote in Hubli
Mysuru's erstwhile royal Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar casts his vote
10.6% voting till 9:15 am, say poll panel
Indian cricket legend Anil Kumble just tweeted this sweet appeal to the voters of Karnataka.
‘Waiting for our turn to vote! Urging everyone to exercise their rights as citizens!,’ Kumble said on microblogging site
Talking to the media after casting his vote, JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda said, ‘We expect a possibility of forming the government, we have done well.’
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda casts his vote at polling booth no 244 in Holenarasipura town in Hassan district
BJP lawmaker Rajeev Chandrasekhar casts his vote at Karnataka Reddyjana Sangha in Bengaluru's Koramangala
In Hubli, faulty Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine at booth number 108 is being replaced. The voting is yet to resume.
BJP's B Sriramalu performed 'gau pooja' before casting his vote. He is contesting against CM Siddaramaiah from Badami constituency
Voting for 222 seats is underway in Karnataka, visuals from booth number 172 in Bengaluru’s BTM constituency
People queue up at polling booth number 144 in Badami constituency. CM Siddaramaiah is contesting against BJP's B.Sriramulu from here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and appealed to the voters of Karnataka to ‘vote in large numbers’
‘Urging my sisters and brothers of Karnataka to vote in large numbers today. I would particularly like to call upon young voters to vote and enrich this festival of democracy with their participation,’ the Prime Minister said on Twitter.
Long lines of voters can be seen at booth no 123A in Puttur
BJP Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa was among the early voters. Yeddyurappa cast his vote in Shimoga’s Shikarpur
Union Minister and BJP leader Sadananda Gowda casts his vote in Puttur.