55% turnout in Jayanagar Assembly constituency

The Jayanagar Assembly constituency in Bengaluru that went to polls on Monday witnessed 55% voter turnout.

A total of 1,11,689 voters exercised their franchise. Except for a few minor incidents, the polling process was smooth.

A few voters in Tilak Nagar were in for a disappointment after the Election Commission officials said that they belonged to a different constituency.

Syed Imran, a resident of Tilak Nagar and his wife, Syed Nagina, were among the few who faced this problem.

When they came to CES School in Jayanagar to cast their votes, the poll panel officers said they belonged to Chickpet constituency.

“I have been voting in this constituency. This year, they are asking me to go to Chickpete, where the polling is over. All my family members have voted here except my wife and me,” said Imran.

When checked with the officers, they said that though Imran had Tilak Nagar address on the voter ID, the area fell under the Chickpet constituency.

The polling station-88 at the Orient School in Gurappanapalya was extremely congested. The officers found it difficult to manage the process. The presiding officer had to put his chair outside the room.

Voters had to wait for almost an hour in the morning after the electronic voting machine (EVM) at the Clarence School failed to function. It was replaced later.

While some found it difficult to vote on a working day, some felt that it would have been good if they voted with others.

Vanaja N, a resident, said: “More than the countermanding of polls, it is unfortunate that we missed a good candidate and now there is not much of excitement.”

Eminent personalities like Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and freedom fighter H S Doreswamy cast their votes at the BES College.

Congress candidate Soumya Reddy visited a few booths in the constituency and also met H S Doreswamy.

“This is the place where I have been associated since a child. So, people have been able to relate with me,” said Soumya.

Interestingly, a few pink polling booths witnessed more male voters than female. The Carmel Convent at Jayanagar East End had reported 92 female voters and 107 male voters until 2 pm.

The elections in this constituency were countermanded after the death of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate B N Vijayakumar. The JD(S) withdrew its candidate Kalegowda and has extended its support to the Congress.

The counting for polls will be held on June 13, Wednesday.