Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Polling in Karnataka peaceful with 69.23% turnout, voter apathy keeps Bengaluru behind

Bengaluru: Polling was largely peaceful across the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the southern part of Karnataka as voters braved the heat to push the turnout to 69.23 per cent as per the tentative data, barely an improvement from the 68.95 per cent in the 2019 polls, thanks to the apathy of the electors in Bengaluru Urban district.

Except for the urban constituencies in Bengaluru, those comprising rural areas saw good participation. Mandya led the list with 81.5 per cent, followed by Kolar (78.07 per cent), Tumkur (77.70 per cent), Hassan (77.51 per cent) and others. Bengaluru rural marginally improved its tally to 67.29 per cent from the 64.98 per cent in 2019.

Stray incidents of voters boycotting polls to protest lack of infrastructure, including one where angry voters damaged the electronic voting machine (EVM), were witnessed in different parts but the positive spirit of the voters prevailed.

Villagers had threatened boycott polls in several places, including Tornahalli of Malur (Kolar), in Gonikoppalu's Ambatti village (Mysore), in Sirigere's Siddapura, Doddatumakuru and Majarahosahalli in Doddaballapur had threatened boycott. They withdrew the same in the later hours following interventions from officials and people's representatives.

The 100 per cent voting by 4 pm in the small polling station (111 voters) of Banjaru Male, which improved on its tally (99%) of last year's Assembly elections, came as a positive reinforcement. So were the five couples who cast their vote before beginning their wedding rituations in Udupi Chikmagalur constituency and 73-year-old Lokamate T T, known for 'not missing any election' who came early for the polling at Kergalli's school, Mysuru Taluk. Mittu Changappa (82) in Madikeri broke his own record by standing first in the queue in 31st election.

At least four persons, including polling officials, died during the exercise. In Gonikoppalu, chandevadya artiste Manohar (58) died of heart attack after casting vote. In Chitradurga's Hotteppanahalli Megalahatti village (Challakere taluk), Yashodhamma, a teacher who was deployed as a polling station staff died. She had suffered a cardiac arrest. In Chamarajanagar, Shantamurthy a polling officer, suffered a heart attack at booth 48 with agencies reporting that he died on the way to the hospital. In Mandya's Channegowdanahalli, 87-year-old Kunduraiah cast his vote by standing in the queue early in the morning despite his leg pain . He died minutes after returning home.

In Indiganatta village of Chamarajanagar taluk's Madeshwar Gram Panchayat, voters who had boycotted the polls threw stones at the polling booths and  damaged the EVM. The incident took place after electors from a neighbouring village came to the station. It led to several villagers and the police personnel being injured. It should be noted that the villagers had warned of boycott during the previous polls but agreed to participate after promises were made by officials.

The day had its share of allegations against candidates. Chikkaballapur BJP candidate Dr K Sudhakar was booked following allegations of trying to bribe an IAS officer. A case against Congress candidate in Chamarajanagar,Sunil Bose, was registered after allegations that liquor packets bearing stickers of his face were distributed to electors.

Meanwhile, Congress election agents in at least two places made allegations of proxy. V Hari Reddy, election agent for Bangalore South candidate Sowmya Reddy, said polling officers in Booth 195, Jai Bhima Nagar had indulged in malpractice by casting proxy votes of minority voters who were told that they have already been voted and telling voters to sign against the BJP symbol and recording the vote themselves. In Hassan's Paduvalahippe village (Holenarasipura taluk), election agent for Congress, Raghavendra alleged that bogus votes have been cast. The allegation came after the EVM broke down twice. Despite officials' attempt to convince him, he left the polling station.

Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF) Alok Mohan told DH: “Polling was peaceful all over the state. No disturbances were reported. Voters were very cooperative.”