Highest polling in Shivamogga
At 7 pm, 65.64 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise in the 14 constituencies of North Karnataka, where 237 candidates are in the fray.
Bengaluru: Shivamogga constituency where the sons of two former CMs are locked in a grim battle, witnessed the highest polling of 74.23 per cent in the second and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka on Tuesday for 14 seats.
Madhu Bangarappa, son of late S. Bangarappa and B.Y. Raghavendra, son of state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa are once again fighting it out after Raghavendra defeated Madhu in the bypoll last year.
Interestingly, Kalaburagi, another constituency which witnessed a high voltage campaign with veteran Dalit leader from the State M Mallikarjun Kharge facing the toughest poll battle of his life, registered a low voter turnout of 56.86 per cent.
At 7 pm, 65.64 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise in the 14 constituencies of North Karnataka, where 237 candidates are in the fray.
The other constituencies which went to polls on Tuesday include Chikkodi (73.10%), Belagavi (65.65%), Bagalkote (69.25%), Vijayapura (60.28), Raichur (57.76%), Bidar (60.51), Koppal (67%), Ballari (67.17), Haveri (70.36), Dharwad (67.27%), Uttara Kannada (71.70%) and Davangere (63.51%).
In the first phase of polling, the voting percentage was 68.80 percent taking the average percent in the state to 66.68.
In Yadgir, Shivaputrappa, a teacher on poll duty suffered a cardiac arrest and died. In Vijayapura district, EVM malfunctioning was reported in five booths, which was later rectified. In Belagavi district too, EVM malfunctioning was reported.
Polling was disrupted at some places in Shivamogga due to heavy rain, A clash between Congress and BJP workers was reported from Bagalkot and Chikkodi. CEO Sanjeev Kumar said barring some minor incidents, polling was by and large peaceful.
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