LS Polls: 7.38 per cent turnout till 9 am in Karnataka

An estimated 7.38 per cent of voter turnout was recorded till 9 AMin 14 constituencies of Karnataka Tuesday, where the contest is between Congress-JD(S) combine and BJP.

The highest turn out was recorded in Shimogga with 10.12 per cent and least in Haveri with 5.75 per cent till 9 am, poll officials said.

Queues were seen at polling booths as the voting began, with many including senior citizens arriving to vote in the morning hours to cast their vote to avoid the summer heat.

Former Chief Minister and state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa was among the prominents, who cast his vote early on Tuesday at Shikaripura in Shimogga.

Yeddyurappa was accompanied by family members including his son B Y Raghavendra, who is the BJP candidate from Shimogga Lok Sabha seat.

"Polling is underway in 14 constituencies today. In Shimogga my son Raghavendra will win at least with 1.5 lakh votes margin. Out of 14, we will win a minimum of 12 seats and another 10 seats where elections have already taken place (first phase on April 18)," Yeddyurappa told reporters after exercising his franchise.

Exuding confidence about winning 22 out of total 28 seats in the state, he said, "even though Deve Gowda (JDS patriarch), Kumaraswamy (Chief Minister) and other important politicians had camped in Shimogga for last two days, people have got respect for Raghavendra's work and 100 per cent he is going to win."