Karnataka Elections: Voter Turnout Crosses Half-Way Mark, 52.18% Till 3 PM

Bengaluru: Voter turnout for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday increased after lunch, reaching 52.18 per cent by three o’clock.

After noon, voter turnout rose and in numerous high-voltage constituencies around the state, it exceeded 60%. According to the current trend, the experts predict that the overall turnout will exceed 70%, signalling a tight race between the main parties.

As many as 2,615 candidates are in the fray. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor Prakash Raj, and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy were among the early voters on Wednesday.

Over 5 crore voters will exercise their franchise to elect a new government in the state. In almost all constituencies in the state, there is a triangular contest between the ruling BJP, Congress and the JDS. The BJP trying to regain its hold on the Karnataka government, while Congress trying for a comeback in the state.

No major untoward incident during the polling process was reported from any part of the state till 9.30 am. Congress party’s sitting MLA and candidate from Chittapur assembly constituency, Priyank Kharge alleged that “polling stopped in booth #178 Chamnur village as the Presiding Officer is prompting/influencing people to vote for BJP.”