Karnataka by-elections: 71 pc turnout

Bangalore, Dec 28: The by-elections to the eight assembly constituencies witnessed voting of 71 percent. The much debated Madhugiri constituency recorded the highest polling which crossed around 80 percent. Polling was peaceful in most areas.

In the high-profile Madhugiri constituency Anitha Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) battled with C Chennigappa of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and K N Rajanna of the Congress. In Belgaum district, Arabhavi and Hukkeri, came a close second with 77 per cent polling. Two ministers, Balachandra Jarkiholi and Umesh Katti are finding their electoral fortunes from these two constituencies respectively.

The lowest turnout in the by-elections was Devadurga in Raichur district with 50 per cent polling. In Madhugiri, more number of voters turned up this time than in the last elections. When D C Gowrishankar had contested as a Janata Dal (Secular) candidate in May, the constituency had recorded a polling percentage of 75.46.Now its the turn of his fatther C Chennigappa who contested against Anita.

In Maddur, last time, M S Siddaraju of the Janata Dal (Secular) had emerged victorious in an election which recorded 75.32 per cent polling. This time his widow Kalpana contested as a Janata Dal (Secular) candidate. And, the constituency reported 76.15 per cent polling.
Karwar, where Minister Anand Asnotikar is in the fray on BJP ticket, witnessed 64 per cent of the 1,83,941 voters casting their votes.

While in Doddabballapur, 76 per cent of the 1.76 lakh voters cast their ballot, Turuvekere witnessed a polling of 67 per cent, according to the returning officers. There were reports of a bee-attack at two polling booths at Doddaballapur said Chief Electoral Officer M N Vidyashankar Kodathipura and Chikkanahalli polling booths witnessed a polling of 85 and 82 per cent respectively, Vidyashankar said.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)