Polling peaceful in Periyapatna

Polling in the Periyapatna Assembly constituency, which was countermanded following the demise of the BJP candidate, passed off peacefully today. As polling was brisk, the voter turnout is expected to cross 60 per cent.

Election from the constituency in Mysore district was scheduled on May 5 along with the general election to the Karnataka Assembly. However, the death of Sannamogegowda caused its postponement.

Polling took place between 7 am and 6 pm in 205 polling stations across the constituency having 162,397 voters, 83,287 men and 79,110 women. The counting of votes will take place on May 31 from 8 am. A ban orders under Section 144 imposed by District Election Officer C Shikha, who is the Deputy Commissioner of Mysore, will be in force that day banning any victory celebrations to maintain peace in the constituency.

Former minister K Venkatesh (Congress), K Mahadev (Janata Dal-S) and RT Satish (BJP) are among the eight candidates in the fray. Of the remaining five candidates, former MLA H C Basavaraju, who had contested as Karnataka Janata Party candidate of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, and Narayana of SJP had announced their retirement and backed the Congress candidate. HD Ganesh (BSR Congress), Krishna (BSP) and KS Shashikumar (independent) are the other three candidates contesting.