Estimated 60.3 per cent polling in Phase II

Bangalore, May 16 (UNI) An estimated 60.3 per cent polling was recorded for the second phase of the Karnataka Assembly elections for 66 seats in 10 districts, which passed off without any incidents.

Briefing newspersons here Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) M N Vidyashankar said Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts recorded the highest turnout of 68 per cent each, while the lowest of 47 per cent polling was recorded in Raichur.

He said the polling was conducted in a most peaceful atmosphere and no untoward incident was reported anywhere in the ten districts.

In 19 polling stations, Electronic Voting Machines had to be replaced due to technical snags. However, polling was not affected as the EVMs were either replaced or faults attended immediately.

He said in Chitradurga, a person, in an inebriated condition, entered the polling station and damaged the master control unit.

Polling was halted for a few minutes before the equipment was replaced. In Mangalore, North segment police nabbed a person, who tried to cast bogus vote, he said.

In Holalkere assembly seat of Chitradurga district, people of a village did not turn up for voting in protest against lack of basic amenities, including drinking water and motorable road.

He said among the ten districts, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi recorded 68 per cent voter turnout followed by Davanagere (64), Chickmagalur (63), Koppal (62), Uttara Kannada (61), Chitradurga and Shimoga (60), Bellary (55) and Raichur (47).

Replying to a question, he said in a polling station in Bellary city segment, the presiding officer was replaced after he had failed to follow the procedure laid down.

Mr Vidyashankar said as of now there was no proposal before the EC to hold repolling in any of the 12,271 polling stations in second phase.

''The decision to hold repoll, if any, will be taken after receiving inputs from all the polling stations,'' he said.

(Ed: Pls pick up suitably from earlier series).

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