Record polling in Karnataka

BENGALURU: A record 80 per cent turnout in bypolls to Karnataka’s Gundlupet and 76 per cent in Nanjangud (reserved) assembly constituencies on Sunday.

“About 80 per cent of voters exercised franchise in Gundlupet and 76 per cent in

Though the polling process began at 7 a.m., voting only gathered momentum during the day and turned brisk after 3 p.m. despite the weather being hot and humid.

A 94-year-old woman died at her home on return from a pooling booth after casting her vote at Hangala village in the Nanjangud segment, said police.

In another incident, about 700 voters boycotted polling in protest against lack of basic amenities in their village (Mahadevanagara) in Nanjangud.

“The electorate were not willing to exercise their franchise in protest. Some of them, however, went to a polling booth later and voted,” said Jha.

The bye-poll for Nanjangud (Scheduled Caste) in Myusuru district has been necessitated by the resignation of former Congress lawmaker and Revenue Minister Srinviasa Prasad, who is recontesting on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.

The ruling Congress has fielded K. Keshavamurthy, who lost to Prasad in the 2013 assembly elections as a Janata Dal-secular (JD-S) nominee. Ten more candidates, including Independents are also in the fray.