NEW DELHI: Karnataka, where voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for the Assembly elections, recorded an approximate voter turnout of 7.83 per cent till 9 am, according to the Election Commission.
The polls will seal the electoral fates of 2,615 candidates across parties in the state. The highest voter turnout was recorded at 12.47 per cent in Dakshina Kannada till 9 am on Wednesday.
Voting is being held for 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka with 2,615 candidates in the fray. As per the Election Commission, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Central recorded 7.89 per cent of voter turnout while BBMP (North) saw 7.55 per cent, BBMP (South) 8.22 per cent, Bagalkot 8.52 per cent, Bengaluru Rural 7.72 per cent, Bengaluru Urban 9.11 per cent, Belagavi at 7.47 am and Ballari at 8.84 per cent till 9 am.
These Assembly elections are a critical test for the ruling BJP that’s hoping to beat precedent and return to power, as well as for the Congress which is looking for electoral revival.
Several key leaders including Union Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, State Minister K Sudhakar, and Congress state president D K Shivakumar were among early voters. (ANI)