70 p.c. polling in eight Karnataka constituencies

The Hindu
Pics: Daijiworld Media Netowork [KPN]

BANGALORE, Dec 28: Brisk and peaceful polling marked the byelection to the Assembly from eight constituencies in Karnataka on Saturday. Counting of votes will be on Tuesday.

State Chief Electoral Officer M.N. Vidyashankar told that polling was brisk through the day. An average of 70 per cent of voters cast their vote in the eight constituencies. The percentage of voting was 77 in Maddur, Arabhavi and Hukkeri, while it was 50 in Deodurga.

In the May 2008 Assembly elections, the voting percentages recorded in the same eight constituencies were marginally lower by around five per cent. In the byelection, the voting percentage in Doddaballapur was 71, Madhugiri 66, Turuvekere 68 and Karwar 64. Sources in the Election Commission said that re-polling was likely in a few booths following some discrepancies. Janata Dal (S) candidate for Turuvekere segment M.T. Krishnappa reportedly attempted to barge into the office of returning officer Basavarajendra to complain against anomalies in the electoral rolls when he was prevented by the police.

He was later convinced by the authorities that photo electoral rolls were valid only from January 1, 2009. The byelection was necessitated in Deodurga, Arabhavi, Hukkeri, Turuvekere, Madhugiri, Karwar and Doddaballapur after the legislators elected on the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) ticket resigned as MLAs to cross over to the Bharatiya Janata Party.