Almost 51% of votes were recorded in Karnataka's Jayanagar constituency that went to the polls on Monday.
Polling officials hoped that there would be an increase in the voter turnout towards the end of the day, as they expected the office-going crowd to cast their votes post 5 pm. Voters can cast their votes until 6 pm.
In one polling booth in 4T block, there was a 65% voter turnout at 3:30 pm. Polling officials said they were expecting it to go up to 80% before they closed for the day.
For a large number of voters, memory of two time MLA BN Vijay Kumar, loomed large as they came to the voting centres. His demise in May this year, came as a shock for residents. “We were used to seeing him in the locality. He was an approachable leader. His demise has definitely created a vacuum for voters here,” said Anjali C, a resident of Tilak Nagar.
Voters in this constituency will choose their representative a month after the rest of the state went to polls for the state Assembly. Elections here had to be countermanded on account of the demise of B.N. Vijay Kumar, then the sitting MLA.
The BJP has chosen to field his brother B.N. Prahlad, while the Congress has Soumya Reddy as its candidate — daughter of senior party leader and former Minister Ramalinga Reddy.
There are 2.03 lakh voters and 216 polling booths in seven wards. There are also five pink booths, which will be monitored by women personnel.
(With inputs from IANS)