69 pc voter turn out estimated in peaceful Karnataka polls

An estimated 69 per cent of the 4.35 crore-strong electorate voted in the Assembly elections in Karnataka today amid projections that beleaguered ruling BJP was on a sticky wicket against a resurgent Congress.
The 7 AM-to-6 PM polling began on a brisk note but appeared to lose steam as the mercury soared before picking up momentum again in the last hours in 223 seats in the 224- member House for which a total of 2,940 candidates were in the fray.
Election in Periyapatna in Mysore district has been put off to May 28 following the death of the BJP candidate.

Briefing reporters, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said a turn out of 63.09 per cent was reported till 5 PM. "Going by the trend we saw in the evening hours, we are estimating it should reach 69 per cent."
Counting of votes will be taken up on May 8.
Prominent candidates included Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee G Parameshwara, former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and JDS state unit President H D Kumaraswamy.

Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements with 1.35 lakh police personnel on duty in some 52,000 polling booths where about 65,000 electronic voting machines had been installed.

Barring sporadic incidents, including one at Bellary, the voting was largely peaceful. None of the incidents was of such a nature that called for repolling, Jha said.
Breakaway parties -- Karnataka Janatha Paksha of Yeddyurappa and BSR Congress formed by former Minister B Sriramulu -- are projected to dent the prospects of BJP, already battered by intra-party fights and allegations of corruption.