Bengaluru : Voting began at 7 am on Wednesday in all 224 assembly seats in Karnataka. To ensure fair and peaceful polling, more than 2 lakh security personnel have been deployed at polling stations with 3-layer security.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai casts his vote at a polling booth in Shiggaon. He also went to Hanuman temple and Gayatri Devi temple to offer prayers before voting in the morning. He is contesting from Shiggaon. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra also cast their votes. Vijayendra is also contesting from Shikaripura assembly constituency this time. Apart from these, many other eminent personalities cast their votes by reaching the polling stations early in the morning.
State Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai offered prayers at Hanuman temple and Gayatri Devi temple in Haveri this morning before casting his vote. He is contesting as a BJP candidate from Shiggaon Assembly Constituency. Chief Minister Bommai, who reached the temple to offer prayers, said, “I am very happy with the way our party, workers and leaders have campaigned. I appeal to the people of Karnataka to vote en masse for the development of Karnataka.” “
Speaking to reporters, Bommai said, “I have voted and done my duty towards democracy. It is a privilege to vote in my constituency. I will win with a record margin. People of Karnataka will vote for positive development and BJP.” will easily get majority.
Voted for double engine government: Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also reached early in the morning to cast her vote. Along with him, his uncle-aunt and local leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party also reached the polling booth. After voting, Union Finance Minister Sitharaman said that the infrastructure of Bengaluru should be better in the coming days. I have voted for further promotion of industry in Karnataka. I have voted for the double engine government.
People are fed up with the hung assembly: Vijayendra
BS Yeddyurappa’s son Vijayendra said after casting his vote that this is my first election and I am happy that the party gave me an opportunity to contest. It is a privilege for me to contest from Shikaripura seat. People are fed up with the hung assembly and I am sure BJP will get majority.
Yeddyurappa voted in line
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa casts his vote at Shivamogga in Shikaripura. He was accompanied by his son Vijayendra and the rest of the family. Yeddyurappa stood in line along with other voters and cast his vote. This time his son Vijayendra has been given ticket from his traditional seat. BS Yeddyurappa said after casting his vote, “Vijayendra is going to get more than 40,000 votes here, we will get absolute majority and form the government, there is no doubt about it. People’s response is very good.”
Actor Prakash Raj cast his vote, said – Karnataka has to be made beautiful
Actor Prakash Raj after casting his vote said that we have to vote against communal politics. You have the right to decide in the election. We have to make Karnataka beautiful and maintain harmony.
Similarly, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy voted in Bengaluru. “First we vote and then we can say this is good, this is not good but if we don’t do that then we don’t have the right to criticize,” he said.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and Congress leader Dr G Parameshwara along with his wife voted in Tumakuru.
While many people are exercising their franchise in the state assembly elections, a bride also reached Mudigere Booth No. 65, Makonahalli to cast her vote in Chikkamagaluru.
For this one phase of polling, 58 thousand 282 polling stations have been set up in the state. According to the Election Commission, 28 thousand 866 of these polling stations are in urban areas, while all others are in rural areas.
Meanwhile, 84,119 state police officers and 58,500 Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed on law and order and security duties across the state.
All police officers are on the rounds to effectively ensure law and order and handle code of conduct violations. 185 inter-state border posts have been put on high alert by police and other personnel. 100 excise inter-state border posts have also been put on high alert. Commercial tax officers are posted at 185 check posts (SSTs) and 75 excise check posts.
Neighboring states are also vigilant in their borders at 190 police, 18 excise and 33 commercial tax check-posts to curb illegal activities and prevent movement of any kind of material into Karnataka for inducement and transfer to the state. Help in free, fair voting.
There are a total of 5.21 crore voters in the state. There are 9.17 lakh voters in Karnataka who will vote for the first time. For the first time in the state, the Election Commission has also given the facility of voting from home for elders above 80 years of age and Divyang. Of the total 5.21 crore voters in the state, 2.59 crore are women and 2.62 crore are men. Among the people who voted in the assembly elections, the age of 16 thousand, 976 voters is more than 100 years.
Apart from this, there are 4699 third gender (transgender) voters. The Election Commission has arranged separate special booths for vulnerable tribal groups and transgenders.
Apart from this, by-elections to Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat and three assembly seats in two states and Sohiong seat in Meghalaya are also being held today. The results of all these seats and the Karnataka assembly elections will be out on May 13.
