67 percent polling in Karnataka; lowest in Bangalore

Karnataka registered 67.28 percent polling in all its 28 Lok Sabha constituencies Thursday, with lowest (55.69 percent) in the high-profile Bangalore South seat from where Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani of Congress contested.

"The final voting percentage for the state is 67.28, which is 8.48 percent higher than 58.80 percent recorded in the 2009 general elections," Karnataka's chief electoral officer Anil Kumar Jha told IANS Friday.

In the prestigious three seats of Bangalore, thought the overall polling has increased by 10.62 percent, Bangalore South recorded the lowest in the state - 55.69 percent as against 44.74 percent in 2009, Bangalore Central 55.70 percent as against 44.55 percent in 2009 and Bangalore North 56.47 percent as against 46.72 percent in 2009.

BJP's five-time winner N.H. Ananth Kumar is seeking sixth term from Bangalore South, while former Infosys director V. Balakrishnan of Aap Aadmi Party (AAP) contested from Bangalore Central against BJP's outgoing lawmaker P.C. Mohan, Rizwan Arshad of Congress and danseuse Nandin Alva of Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).Former BJP chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda contested from Bangalore North against C. Narayanaswamy of Congress and Abdul Azeem of JD-S. Gowda replaced BJP's outgoing lawmaker D.B. Chandre Gowda.

In the neighbouring Bangalore Rural, however, voting percentage was higher than in Bangalore seats -- 68.80 as against 57.92 percent in 2009.

"Dakshina Kannada in the coastal area again recorded the highest polling in the state with 77.18 percent as against 74.45 percent in 2009 elections," Jha said.

Veteran Congressman and former Union minister Janardhana Poojary was pitted against outgoing BJP lawmaker Nalin Kumar Kateel in the constituency.

Chikkaballapur, about 70km from Bangalore, recorded second highest polling of 76.06 percent as against 68.09 percent in 2009.

Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas M. Veerappa Moily of Congress is seeking second term from this backward constituency, where former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and former BJP minister B.N. Bache Gowda are other main candidates.

Kolar (reserved-SC) constituency, from where union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister K.H. Muniyappa is seeking seventh term, recorded 75.50 percent polling as against 69.15 percent in 2009.

Chikkodi in northern region of the state polled 74.58 percent, followed by Udupi-Chikamaglur at 74.46 percent, Hassan 73.50 percent, Davanagere 73.20 percent, Chamarajnagar (SC) 72.81 percent, Tumkur 72.50 percent, Shimoga 72.31 percent, Haveri 71.60, Mandya 71.60 and Bellary (ST) 70.28 percent.

Former prime minister and JD-S supremo winner H.D. Deve Gowda is seeking sixth term from Hassan, which is his home turf.

BJP's first chief minister in the state B.S. Yeddyurappa contested a parliamentary poll for the first time from his home town Shimoga, replacing his younger son and outgoing BJP lawmaker B.Y. Raghavendra.

Former BJP minister Shobha Karandlaje has contested against outgoing Congress lawmaker Jayaprakash Hegde from Udupi-Chikamaglur.

Of the 28 seats, five are reserved for Dalits (SCs) and two for Tribals (STs).Final voting percentages in the remaining constituencies are: Raichur (ST) 58.27, Bidar 60.15, Koppal 65.59, Haveri 71.60, Dharwad 65.75, Uttara Kannada 69.20, Chitradurga (SC) 66.07, Mysore 66.53, Belgaum 68.43, Bagalkot 68.88, Bijapur (SC) 59.71 and Gulbarga (SC) 57.90 from where Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge is seeking second term.

The Congress, BJP and AAP have fielded candidates in all 28 seats, while JD-S contested from 24 seats.