K'taka polls: Campaigning starts for III phase

Bangalore, May 17: After the completion of two phases, campaigning is gaining momentum for the third and last phase of the Karnataka Assembly polls, which is scheduled to be held on May 22.

Several political leaders are visiting the state for campaigning. The Congress President Sonia Gandhi is addressing a public meeting at Hubli today. A total of 69 Assembly constituencies in eight districts of North Karnataka, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Bidar, Gulbaga, Bijapur, Bagalakot and Belgaum will face the ballot in this phase. Sixty per cent polling was reported on Friday in the second phase of Assembly elections. Voters from ten districts of Raichur, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Bellary, Chitradurga Davanagere, Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada participated in the election.

66 per cent voter turnout was registered in 89 of the total 224 assembly seats in the first phase of elections on May 10.

Counting of votes will take place on May 25.

The assembly elections in Karnataka are crucial in wake of parliamentary elections in 2009.

ANI