Udupi, Sringeri vote in strength

Sringeri in Chikamagalur district and Karkala in Udupi district, areas where the Naxals had issued poll-boycott calls and where two BJP workers were killed on poll eve, recorded 68 per cent and 70 per cent polling on Friday. An entire village in the central district of Chitradurga boycotted the polls in protest against the lack of basic amenities, election officials said.

Among the keenly watched districts in this second phase, the battle of moneyed mine owners in the iron-ore rich but impoverished Bellary district did not really enthuse voters to brave the heat. The district recorded 55 per cent polling. Shimoga district where some interesting battles are being fought, including that of BJP’s CM candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa versus former CM S. Bangarappa, recorded 60 per cent polling. Raichur, a traditionally low polling area, recorded the lowest polling of 47 per cent in the current phase. Much of the battle in this phase is expected to be between the BJP and the Congress. The JD(S) and SP and others make up the fringe.

Barring the pre-poll violence at Karkala Taluk in Udupi and skirmishes in the Bellary district that led to the transfer of Superintendent of Police Amrit Paul, no incidents of violence were reported on Friday. Chief Electoral Officer M.N. Vidyashankar said Paul was transferred because there were a series of reports against him. The transferred SP has been accused of being biased in his actions.