Karnataka Assembly election 2018 | Live: Voting begins in 222 constituencies

Voting has begun in the 222 of 224 constituencies in Karnataka and will be held till 6 p.m. on Saturday. 

While the Congress is seeking a second term, the BJP is aiming to firm up its label as a pan-Indian party by winning a State election in the South, a region where it is not ruling now. The Janta Dal (Secular) is contesting polls in alliance with the BSP and the AIMIM.

Elections to R.R. Nagar has been postponed after over 9,000 voter ID cards were seized in the constituency. Voters from Jayanagar, too, won't be exercising their franchise on May 12 as the elections were deferred after the demise of BJP candidate and sitting MLA Vijay Kumar.

Here are the live updates:

Polling delayed in Udupi

Voting was delayed by an hour at booth no. 186 at Kukkikatte in Udupi Assembly constituency due to technical snag in an EVM. Polling began around 8.10 a.m. after the EVM was replaced.

As there was a delayed start, the BJP demanded extension of polling at the booth by an hour.

Roads damaged in Belagavi

Many voters faced difficulties in approaching a booth in Shva Basava Nagar in Belagavi due damaged and water-logged roads as there were heavy rains in the area on Friday night. A part of the road had been dug up for laying cables under the Smart Cities project.

Deve Gowda casts his vote

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda arrivs at a booth in Paduvalahippe in Holenarsipur to exercise his franchise.   | Photo Credit: Satish G.T.

Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, accompanied by wife Channamma, son Revanna, daughter-in-law Bhavani Revanna and grandson Prajwal, visited Kodandarama temple next to the booth before exercising their franchise. Earlier in the day, he also visited temples at Holenarsipur, Haradanahalli and Mavinakere.

Mr. Gowda exuded confidence that his parry will come to power and the situation of seeking an alliance will not arise.
After casting his vote at a booth in Paduvalahippe in Holenarsipur constituency Mr. Gowda said, the Congress and the BJP spent had huge money for the elections. “Our party cannot match those parties in terms of resources. If voters support us without heeding to the resources spent, we will win.”
“I know voters of this constituency very well,” he said, adding that he had been with them for the last 50 years.

Faulty EVMs replaced

Special Correspondent from Hassan: Mock polling was conducted after the electronic voting machines (EVMs), Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines and control units were replaced at Paduvalahippe polling booth in Holenarsipur constituency on Saturday morning.

Election officers reached the booth and replaced the machines following complaints of technical glitch in the EVMs. 29 people had already voted by then.

The officers briefed the polling agents that the votes cast earlier would also be accounted for and that the EVMs used earlier would be sealed separately.

The polling was disrupted for nearly 30 minutes.

Staff Reporter from Shivamogga: Polling was stopped for 45 minutes owing to technical glitch in an electronic voting machine (EVM) at a polling station in Shanthi Nagar locality in Shivamogga segment limits.

By the time technical problem was noticed, 31 voters had already cast their votes. The polling resumed after the EVM was replaced by the sector officer.

PM, Siddaramaiah and Rahul tweet

On Friday evening, while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in Kannada asking people of Karnataka to vote and participate in the festival of democracy, Chief Minsiter Siddaramaiah urged the people, especially youngsters, to come out and cast their vote and celebrate the festival of democracy. Mr. Siddaramaiah also urged them to remember the progress of the State in the last 5 years.

Meanwhile Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet on Saturday, welcomed the yougsters who are voting for the first time. The voter turnout is sign of dynamic democracy, he said.

Technical glitch at Paduvalalu and Paduvalahippe

Polling has been delayed at Paduvalalu polling station in Belur constituency due to technical glitch in EVMs. The polling staff have informed the senior officials for replacement of the defective machines. The voters have been asked to wait until then.

Polling has been stopped at Paduvalahippe in Holenarsipur constituency due to a technical issue in the EVMs. Former Prime Minister H.D Deve Gowda and his family members are expected to exercise their franchise at this polling station. Sector officers have reached the spot and replaced the faulty machines around 7:45 a.m. 29 people had voted by then.

Polling has also been delayed at Booth no. 185 in Lamington School of Hubballi after EVMs developed a technical snag.

Voting begins

Voting began in the 222 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka at 7 a.m. on Saturday. People were seen waiting in a long queue at a polling centre in Mysuru.

People wait in queue to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in Mysuru on Saturday.   | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram