Bengaluru, April 9: The by-elections for two assembly seats in Karnataka were conducted peacefully on Thursday. Voter turnout exceeded 68% in both the Bagalkot and Davanagere South constituencies.
Voting commenced at 7 AM and continued until 6 PM. Results will be announced on May 4.
According to official figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the voting percentage in Bagalkot was recorded at 68.65%, while Davanagere South saw a turnout of 68.43%.
Voters from Karnataka residing in Goa showed significant interest in the Bagalkot by-election. Approximately 70 to 80 voters from Madapur village traveled back from Goa in two private mini-buses to cast their votes.
These individuals, who had moved to Goa for employment, returned to their village and were seen enthusiastically queuing at polling booths. They expressed gratitude to a local leader, Vitthal, who had assisted them during the COVID lockdown by providing food and arranging their return to the village. They stated, “Now we have come to vote.”
Earlier, tensions arose in Davanagere when clashes broke out between Congress and Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) workers near the main road of Basha Nagar during voting.
The incident occurred outside a polling booth set up at Millat School. According to sources, SDPI polling agents had set up a table about 200 meters away from the polling station. Congress workers objected, insisting that the table be removed, claiming it was placed beyond the designated area.
Tensions escalated when the table was reportedly overturned by SDPI agents, leading to a confrontation between the two parties’ workers. The situation intensified as verbal exchanges quickly turned into a physical altercation.
Police intervened and managed to control the situation after several attempts.
Additionally, allegations of mismanagement surfaced during the Bagalkot by-election, where voters faced difficulties due to a lack of basic facilities at a polling station in Aminagar.
Reports indicated that voters were deprived of essential amenities like drinking water. The absence of proper arrangements, especially in the scorching heat, caused significant discomfort. There was also no adequate shade, forcing people to stand in long lines under the sun.
The main contest in Bagalkot is between Congress candidate Umesh Meti and BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath.
These by-elections were necessitated by the passing of Congress MLA H.Y. Meti. In the Davanagere South constituency, officials established 284 polling centers, with 76 marked as sensitive. A prohibition order was enforced within a 200-meter radius of the polling centers. The constituency has 231,000 voters, with 25 candidates in the fray. Over 1,000 security personnel were deployed to ensure safety.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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