The voting for Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 concluded and the latest figures show a 71.77 per cent voter turnout on Wednesday.
Voting is underway in Karnataka where assembly elections are being held in a single phase. It is a high stakes state where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing to script history by returning to power.
In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, Karnataka election results along with other key states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are expected to set the tone for general elections next year.
In the eight hours of voting, Ramanagara recorded the highest turnout of 63.36 per cent, while the the lowest polling was seen in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) South limits (parts of Bengaluru city) at 40.28 per cent, election officials said.
A total of 5.3 crore (5,31,33,054 to be precise) electors are eligible to cast their vote in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.
As many as 84,119 State Police Officers and 58,500 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel in 650 companies are on law and order and security duty on poll day across the state.
Former Karnataka CM and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa visited and offers prayers at Sri Huccharaya Swami Temple in Shikaripur, along with his family. His son, BY Vijayendra is contesting from the Assembly constituency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the people of Karnataka to vote in large numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. Modi tweeted, "Urging the people of Karnataka, particularly young and first time voters to vote in large numbers and enrich the festival of democracy."
Home Minister Amit Shah too urged people to "come out in large numbers to vote for good governance, development and prosperity in the state".
"Your one vote can ensure a pro-people and pro-progress govt that will continue to take the state to newer heights," he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that, "People of Karnataka have decided that they shall choose a progressive, transparent & welfare-oriented government. Today, it is time vote in large numbers. We welcome our first time voters to participate in this democratic process for a better future."
The voting that began at 7 am amid tight security will go on till 6 in the evening. The counting of votes will take place on Saturday.
Karnataka is mainly witnessing a three-cornered contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress, and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular).
In the last assembly elections, the BJP had emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats, followed by Congress with 80 MLAs and JD(S) with 37 MLAs. There was one independent MLA and the BSP and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) had one legislator each.
(With inputs from PTI)
