With 72.36 per cent polling Karnataka beats its 1978 record

It was a new record in Karnataka. The official figure where the voting percentage for the Karnataka assembly elections which was held on May 12 stood at 72.36. There were 5.06 crore people who exercised their franchise.

The 2018 poll beat the previous record of 1978 when the voting percentage was at 71.9. In 2013, the voting percentage recorded was 71.45.

According to the updated statistics provided by the Election Commission of India, Hoskote constituency in Bengaluru Rural district polled the highest. The percentage was at 89.97. Dasarhalli in Bengaluru at 48.03 per cent polled the lowest.

Chamundeshwari, where chief minister Siddaramaiah contested against G T Deve Gowda of the JD(S) witnessed 76.05 per cent polling. At Channapatna where H D Kumaraswamy contested, the percentage was at 85.86. Shikharipura where Yeddyurappa contested from witnessed 81.45 per cent voting. At Badami where a crucial battle was fought between Siddaramaiah and B Sriramulu, the polling percentage was 74.65.

The overall number would increase after polling is held at Jayanagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru. The Jayanagar poll was countermanded following the death of BJP MLA, B N Vijaykumar. In Rajarajeshwari, the poll was deferred to May 28 following the busting of a major voter ID scam. Polling on May 12 was held in 222 out of the 224 assembly constituencies.