Bangalore, May 10:Urban voters in Bangalore and Mysore showed electoral apathy while rural voters turned out in sizable numbers for the first phase of polls to 89 Assembly constituencies in 11 districts in southern Karnataka on Saturday. A total of 59.8 per cent polling was registered.

The 17 constituencies that make up the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike polled a mere 44 per cent as several enthusiastic voters were turned away on account of names missing from electoral rolls.

Another 11 constituencies in the region defined as Bangalore Urban area polled 55 per cent while the Mysore region registered 54 per cent voting. The Ramanagar district where one key fight involves former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy polled a whopping 70 per cent.

In other Vokkaliga heartland districts like Bangalore Rural polled 72 per cent while Mandya, Hassan and Chikaballapur each posted 68 per cent polling. The polling figures have resulted in JDS leaders suggesting a very good performance by their party in the 27 constituencies in the above four districts.

Among other districts, Kodagu polled at 60 per cent, Tumkur 63 per cent, Kolar 64 per cent and Chamarajnagar at 65 per cent. In Bangalore voters at several booths complained that their names were missing form the electoral rolls. “We followed the procedure of registering after we found our names had been left out. But my entire family’s names were missing,” Sudin K, an IT professional said.

“Our names were missing. We heard the rolls were revised in a hurry,” Hemant George, 36, a hospitality industry executive, said.

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