While 70.23 per cent of the electorate exercised its franchise on Sunday across Karnataka, urban areas, including Bangalore, registered lower turnout compared to the rest. The average turnout in Bangalore Urban district was 52.83 per cent.
Districts in north and coastal Karnataka witnessed turnouts ranging from 73.92 per cent in Dakshina Kannada to 62.92 per cent in Raichur district. Extremely hot weather conditions in northern Karnataka appear to have dissuaded many from coming out to vote.
Manhandled
While polling went on peacefully across the State, a few minor incidents were reported in some places. BJP candidate for Belgaum South Abhay Patil was reportedly manhandled by Independent candidate and former Belgaum Mayor Sambhaji Patil and his supporters in Shahapur, Belgaum.
Dakshina Kannada, dominated by women voters, witnessed brisk polling, with lactating mothers as well as elderly people turning out to exercise their right. In Naravi village under the Belthangady Assembly segment, Meenakshi with her one-and-a-half-month-old baby exercised her franchise.
At Kalladka in the Bantwal constituency, Jayanthi of Nitla village voted along with her seven-month-old baby. At a school at Odilnala village under the Belthangady constituency, Honnamma in her eighties came to vote with her son-in-law. “He (son-in-law) brings me every time, and I vote every time,” she said.
Naxal-affected areas
Naxal-affected areas in districts such as Shimoga witnessed brisk polling throughout the day. Village residents came out in large numbers despite reported threat by Maoists to refrain from voting.
Over 80 per cent turnout was registered in the 30 polling booths in areas that had been declared Naxal-affected in Shimoga district, according to District Superintendent of Police Koushalendra Kumar. In Gulbarga district, while five constituencies recorded polling just above 60 per cent, the remaining four registered less than 60 per cent turnout.
