Lok Sabha Elections 2024 (Bengaluru Highlights) | City records decent turnout, Tejasvi Surya booked for 'soliciting votes on religious grounds'

Which are the states across the country heading to polls today?

The states which are going to polls in phase 2 are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Rajasthan, Manipur and West Bengal.

What will be closed in Bengaluru today?

As is the norm during an election day, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, as well as relevant non-essential government services in Bengaluru will be shut down on election day.

Additionally, corporate offices will provide their employees with at least a leave to allow them to vote, as it is mandatory to do so according to the law.

Karnataka HC also declared a general holiday to the High Court Benches on April 26 and May 7, on account of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Banks will be shut too.

The district magistrate's office also released an order banning the production, sale, distribution, transportation, storage etc. of liquor from 5:00 PM on 24 April to 12:00 midnight on 26 April. Thus, any liquor stores will remain closed.

To avoid any incidents during the polling day, a prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC will be in place from 6 pm on April 24 to the midnight of April 26 in the Bengaluru city commissionerate limits.

What will remain open in Bengaluru today?

Essential services, such as BMTC, BMRCL, hospitals, etc. will remain in operation.

Commercial establishments will also remain open, although they will likely start operations late to allow their eligible employees to vote early in the day.

As Bengaluru gears up for the elections on 26 April, it's crucial for citizens to prioritize their civic duty before embarking on their long weekend plans that the election holiday will provide.

Here are all the main poll faceoffs in Bengaluru today

Bangalore Rural: D K Suresh vs C N Manjunath

Bangalore North: Professor M.V Rajeev Gowda vs Shobha Karandlaje

Bangalore Central: Mansoor Ali Khan vs P C Mohan

Bangalore South: Tejasvi Surya vs Souwmya Reddy

Officials complete mustering process under scorching Bengaluru sun

Under the scorching sun, with temperatures soaring to 37 degrees Celsius, thousands of polling officials deputed to election duty reported at mustering centres across Bengaluru on Thursday.

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Theme-based polling stations set up to woo Bengaluru voters

From raising awareness about the need to save water to emphasizing the importance of Ayurveda, many theme-based polling stations have been set up across Bengaluru. While these stations are primarily intended to attract voters, they also convey important messages to the public.

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Bengaluru's ‘Petrol Uncle’ walks with banner to ‘vote for change, not for hate’

The streets of Bengaluru saw a rather unusual sight on Wednesday: a man walking around with a placard saying “I’ll vote for change, not for hate”.

This was Mohammad Arif Sait, fondly called the “Petrol Uncle,” who provides motorists who have run out of fuel with a bottle of petrol, some water, and perhaps some food too, since 2008.

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Polling begins across four constituencies in Bengaluru.

Watch | Infosys founder Narayana Murthy casts his vote at BES polling station

Murthy, whose suggestion of a 70-hour work week had created much stir, said after exercising his franchise, "Once in every five years, we get an opportunity to execute the right given by our constitution, to choose whatever candidate from whichever party he/she is, to govern us. Today is a very happy day. Today is the day when we should all be enthusiastic to exercise our power." (ANI)

Author Sudha Murty casts her votes in Lok Sabha elections in Bengaluru

Writer and philanthropist Sudha Murty reached a polling station in Bengaluru on Friday morning where she cast her vote.

"I want to tell everyone- don't sit at home, come out and vote, choose your leader. I always feel that urban people vote less as compared to those in rural areas. I request youngsters to come out and vote," she said after voting.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at BES polling booth along with her father to cast her vote

Actor Prakash Raj casts his vote at a polling station in Bengaluru.

After casting his vote, the actor said, "My vote stands for my right, for my power to chose who represents me, who will be my voice in the Parliament... It is very important to choose a candidate whom you believe in, and I have voted for the candidate I believe in and to the manifesto they have brought in and for the change, because of the hatred and divisive politics we have seen in the last decade..."

People cast their vote at the St Joseph Indian High School, Malya road.

Voters who arrived at the polling booth in St Joseph Indian High School on Friday, April 26, 2024, show their ID proofs.

A regular voter— woman finds her nonagenarian mother's name deleted from electoral list in Bengaluru

"There was no indication of this at all. We brought her here in great difficulty but learnt that her name has been deleted. I am not leaving until my mother casts her vote," said Aslesha Khandeparkar, a voter who has been voting at the St Joseph Indian High School for the past two parliamentary elections with her mother Leela Bhasin.

Bengaluru BBMP commissioner Tushar Girinath exercised his franchise at Jakkuru Polling Booth

Bengaluru BBMP commissioner Tushar Girinath.

People want to see PM Modi continue his term: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Minister and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje casts her vote in Bengaluru

"Siddaramaiah is frustrated that is why he is speaking against PM Modi. The entire country is standing with PM Modi. I urge all the voters to come out and vote. I hope we will cross 400 (seats) as people of country are with PM Modi and want development, security," Karandlaje told reporters after casting her vote.

After casting her vote, Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman interacted with first time voters in Bengaluru

BJP's candidate for Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya offers prayers at home before casting his vote

BJP candidate from Bengaluru South constituency Tejasvi Surya offered prayers at his residence ahead of casting his vote for the Lok Sabha polls. Congress has fielded Sowmya Reddy opposite Tejasvi Surya in the Bengaluru South constituency.

Union Minister & BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje casts her vote at a polling booth in Bengaluru.

"For its security and development, the country needs PM Narendra Modi for the third time. So, we are celebrating that festival today. We hope to win with a large margin from here," Karandlaje said after casting her vote.

Tejasvi Surya casts vote, says Congress will not win more than 30 seats across country

"Congress party has become absolutely frustrated. Survey after survey shows that it may not win more than 30 seats... The more personal attacks and baseless allegations they make against the PM, history has shown that the Prme Minister has only gotten stronger and the BJP has only gotten popular... The fact that Mallikarjun Kharge wants to meet the Prime Minister to explain his party manifesto indicates that perhaps even the Congress realises that it will be the PM who will implement some good ideas that may be present in the Congress manifesto... Perhaps this is the admission of Congress that they are not coming anywhere near power for the next two decades," the sitting Bangalore South MP said.

Actor Ragavendra Rajkumar and Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar cast their vote at the Poornaprajna School, Sadashivanagar.

DH Photo/B K Janardhan

Although elderly voters trickled in slowly at the Poornaprajna Education Centre, Sadashivanagar, chaos ensued when members of the Rajkumar family reached the centre to vote as media persons and local voters scrambled to get their photographs. Raghavendra Rajkumar, actor and producer, was joined by his sons Yuva and Vinay Rajkumar, and late actor Puneeth Rajkumar's wife Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar.

"Voting is not an act of charity, it is a right. I urge all voters to vote for whoever they think can do the most for their people," said Raghavendra Rajkumar.

Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid urges citizens to vote

Assembly LoP R Ashoka casts his vote in Bengaluru

Cricket legend and local hero Anil Kumble casts his vote

Tejasvi Surya asks BJP supporters to come out and vote in large numbers, says only 20% of party's supporter base votes

Long queue for free food at Nisarga Grand Hotel

Forest polling station under Kanakapur Assembly Constituency of Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha seat has a unique look:

Frustration driving CM Siddaramaiah to speak against PM: Bangalore North BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje

Bengaluru, Apr 26 (PTI) Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Friday took a dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, saying he has been speaking against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he is "frustrated."

"The whole nation is standing with Narendra Modi, it's only Siddaramaiah who is speaking against Modi," the Bangalore North Lok Sabha candidate told PTI Videos.

She appealed to people to exercise their franchise "because today is a day to celebrate democracy. It's a festival of democracy."

"This election will decide who will be our next prime minister," said the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

"If you want Modi as the Prime Minister then you should visit the polling booths." She said she was hopeful of the NDA crossing the tally of 400 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections "because people are standing with Modi for the development and security of the country".

What are Bengalureans saying about the ongoing water crisis and the city's infrastructure issues amidst polling?

"The water shortage is not a surprise for us, locals. We knew it's coming. Nothing on rain water harvesting has been done by either the central or the state government," Prasanna Raghavan, an IT professional said after casting his vote.

Kkavya, 19, who uses only one name, moved to Bengaluru three years ago from Kashmir in the north to study and find a job. She intends to flee the city next year when she finishes studying, fed up with its water shortages and traffic woes.

"So we say there's no use for cars in (Bengaluru), because for one kilometre, you're going to take 30 minutes, (so) just walk," she said.

"A total lack of planning while developing something", is the biggest issue, said Musthafa K.P., 62, a retired IT consultant living in Bengaluru for 21 years.

"The city grows rapidly every year and there will be increased pressure on natural resources," he said. "We need better technology solutions and we must start thinking about such solutions immediately."

(Reuters)

Around 20% turnout in Bengaluru till 11 am

Bangalore Rural: 20.35 per cent

Bangalore South: 19.81 per cent

Bangalore North: 19.78 per cent

Bangalore Central: 19.21 per cent

Karnataka, on an average, has seen 22.34 per cent voter turnout till 11 am

MLA Rizwan Arshad casts his vote

Bengaluru records average voter turnout of 32.48% as of 1.30 pm

The voter turnout for the four Bengaluru constituencies are as follows:

Bangalore Rural: 36.09 per cent

Bangalore North: 32.25 per cent

Bangalore Central: 30.10 per cent

Bangalore South: 31.51 per cent

Kannada superstars Kichcha Sudeep, Yash, Darshan cast their vote

Credit: Special Arrangement

Credit: Special Arrangement

Bangalore South's Congress candidate Souwmya Reddy claims even BJP supporters are voting for her party

Tejasvi Surya urges voters to go out and vote, says 'crucial if country is to be in strong, safe hands'

The approximate voter turnout for Karnataka is at 50.93% and this is how Bengaluru voted till 3pm

Bangalore Rural: 49.62 per cent

Bangalore South: 40.77 per cent

Bangalore North: 41.12 per cent

Bangalore Central: 40.10 per cent

Bengaluru recorded an average of 42.90 per cent of votes.

Former cricketer Anil Kumble, actor Ramesh Arvind cast their votes in Bengaluru

Credit: X/@ceo_karnataka

Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar arrives at polling booth to cast his vote

Case lodged against BJP's Tejasvi Surya for posting a video in X handle and soliciting votes on the ground of religion

40.66% voter turnout in Bengaluru

The 3 pm data showed that the three constituencies logged 40.66% even as the rest of the constituencies crossed the 50% mark. Dakshina Kannada has maintained the lead at 58.76%, followed by Udupi Chikmagalur, Mandya and Tumkur.

Kamalavathi Rao (100), a resident of Rajarajeshwari nagar cast her vote from the constituency on Friday

EC rules out 'ballot button error' in Shanthinagar booth

Bengaluru: Election officials in Karnataka ruled out any error in the polling process at booth number 17 in Shantinagar under Bangalore Central constituency.

The District Electoral Officer, BBMP said an audio complaint was stated that the ballot button was not activated in the control unit (which is equivalent to issuing a ballot) at the time of casting the vote in Shantinagar.

Karnataka records a overall turnout of 63.90 per cent till 5pm and here is how Bengaluru voted

Bangalore South: 49.37 per cent

Bangalore North: 50.04 per cent

Bangalore Central: 48.61 per cent

Bangalore Rural: 61.78 per cent

Stars of Kannada film industry descend to cast votes for LS polls, Yash bats for 'less govt interference'

The stars of Sandalwood did not disappoint in the election this time around too, as they trooped in and cast their votes on April 26.

Not surprisingly, actors who also double up as political activists came in first. Prakash Raj was one of the early voters to come to the booth as soon as voting started. Actor Darshan, who was seen campaigning for Mandya Congress candidate, Venkataramane Gowda, popularly known as Star Chandru, cast his vote in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. Actor Kiccha Sudeep, who canvassed for the BJP during the Karnataka Assembly elections, decided to keep away from hustings this time.

However, he was among the early voters at Bengaluru South’s JP Nagar.

Superstar Yash came in with his wife, Radhika Pandit, to cast his vote at Hoskerehali (Bengaluru South) post-noon. After voting, the star said, “The government should do what it is supposed to do and it should let people do what they are doing. I think interference should be less. Empowerment should be done, there are so many things that I expect as a citizen." (PTI)

Glimpses around the city as Bengaluru voted today

Approximate voter turnout in Karnataka has been 64.57% while Bengaluru averaged at 53.10%.

The tentative data put the turnout for Bangalore North at 54.42%, followed by Bangalore South (53.15%) and Bangalore Central (52.15%). Bangalore Rural saw 67.29% of voter turnout