Bangalore (PTI): Polling began today in 66 Assembly constituencies in 10 districts of Karnataka in the second phase of election which decides the electoral fortunes of BJP Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, former Chief Minister S Bangarappa and former Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash.

An estimated 1.10 crore people are eligible to vote in 12,286 polling stations.

Districts of Uudpi, Chikmagalur, Shimoga and Dakshina Kannada have come under an unprecedented security cover in the wake of a call given by naxals to people to boycott voting, and shoot-at-sight orders are in force in this region.

Bellary, where mine owners are in electoral battle, has been bracketed by Election Commission as one of the sensitive area and is under seige by security personnel.

The authorties were forced to rush additional reinforcements in the wake of an alleged attack by BJP leader and Former Minister B Sriramulu on a Congress activist Thursday.

Prominent among the 589 candidates in fray included, R V Deshapnde of Congress, bidding for a seventh successive victory in Haliyal, four time Raichur MP Venkaesh Naik from Congress, bidding to enter Assembly against his own grandson Shivannagouda Naik in Raichur, Shakuntala Shetty, BJP rebel in Puttur, Bangarappa's sons-- Kumar and Madhu, waging a hurculean battle in Soraba, K S Eswarappa of BJP seeking re-election in Shimoga.

Mahima Patel, son of former Chief Minister late J H Patel, is looking for a second term from Chennagiri segment.