The elections to the Legislative Council from South Graduates’ Constituency got off to a slow start in all four districts on Thursday but picked up momentum as the day advanced. Voting began at 8 a.m. in 130 polling stations in Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, and Hassan districts.
Heads of institutions, colleges and other establishments had been asked to permit their employees to cast their vote. At 10 a.m., the voting percentage was around 6.5 per cent and thereafter, polling turned brisk. Yet, it was not on the expected lines since many stayed away from exercising their franchise.
Highest number of voters
The polling concluded at 4 p.m. and the overall percentage, as per the figures available with the Department of Information and Public Relations in Mysuru, was 43.92 per cent.
Among the four districts, Chamarajanagar registered the highest poll percentage at 55.23 per cent. Mysuru recorded 39.63 per cent poll percentage.
Mysuru district had the highest number of voters at 56,075. Out of 1,20,455 voters in all four districts, only 52,894 cast their votes.
Minister in-charge of Mysuru district V. Srinivas Prasad, Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Mutt, and novelist S.L. Bhyrappa cast their votes.
The candidates were Ravindra (Congress), M.V. Ravishankar (BJP), and K.T. Srikante Gowda (JD(S). Writer K.S. Bhagavan and Vatal Nagaraj contested as Independents. A total of 17 candidates were in fray for the election and their fate will be known on June 13 at the counting which will take place at JSS College on Ooty Road.
