Updated

Bengaluru, April 9 (IANS): A record 80 percent turnout in by-polls to Karnataka's Gundlupet and 76 percent in Nanjangud (reserved) assembly constituencies on Sunday.

"About 80 percent of voters exercised franchise in Gundlupet and 76 percent in Nanjangud by 5 p.m. The percentatge is likely to go up, as many voters were in queues in some booths when poll timing ended officially at 5 p.m.," state Chief Electoral Officer A.K. Jha told reporters here.

In the April 2013 assembly elections, polling percentatge in Gundlupet was also a record 87.05 and in Nanjungud, it was 77.59.

Barring stray incidents like voting being held up due to glitches in the EVMs in some booths and poll boycott in a village in the Nanjangud segment, the by-polls were peaceful in both the segments amid tight security.

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 re-contesting 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.

Keshavamurthy was seen casting vote sporting the party symbol on a shawl he was wearing, which is a violation of the model code of conduct, as he was within 100 metres radius of the polling booth.

The bye-poll for Gundlupet in the adjacent Chamarajanagar district has been caused due to the death of Congress lawmaker and Cooperation Minister H.S. Mahadeva Prasad on January 2.

The ruling party has fielded his widow Geetha against C.S. Niranjan Kumar of the opposition BJP. Seven more are also in the fray.

The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) has not contested in the bye-polls, ostensibly for the reason that the next assembly elections are a year away in April 2018.

Nanjangud has 2,00,498 voters and 236 polling stations while Gundlupet has 2,00,821 electorate and 250 polling booths.

Vote count is on April 13.

Earlier Report

Chamarajanagar: Polling begins for crucial Nanjangud and Gundlupet by-elections

Daijiworld Media Network - Chamarajanagar
With DHNS Inputs

Chamarajanagar, Apr 9: After days of intense battle that saw political parties hurl accusations against each other, polling began for the crucial by-elections in Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies here on Sunday April 9.

The polling began on a brisk note as voters flocked to their respective polling booths in big numbers. By 9 am, 15.20% voter turnout was recorded.

Elaborate arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the bypolls in both the constituencies. As the bypolls are seen as a straight fight between the BJP and Congress, security has been beefed up in both places. The Election Officers in both the segments have filed several cases against violators of the model code of conduct.

They have also arrested several people for poll-related irregularities since March 9.While the Mysuru district police have deputed 1,290 personnel, including senior officials, 18 battalions of District Armed Reserve police and six?battalions of Central Armed Police Forces have also been deployed as a precautionary measure.

In the Gundlupet Assembly segment, 55 assistant sub-inspectors, 128 head constables, 250 constables, 194 home guards, and 365 CAPF personnel have been deployed.

In addition, micro observers have been appointed to a few select polling centres in both the constituencies. While all polling centres will be under video coverage, 20 and 10 stations in Nanjangud and Gundlupet segments respectively are covered by web casting. In order to prevent malpractice, mobile phones are banned inside the polling centres.

In Nanjangud constituency, the EC has established 236 booths. Among them, 72 have been identified as hyper-sensitive and 124 as sensitive. In the Gundlupet segment, there are 250 polling booths and 49 of them have been identified as hyper-sensitive and 56 as sensitive.

Nanjangud constituency has 11 candidates, including Congress and BJP, in the fray. While BJP has fielded former minister V Srinivas Prasad, Congress party has fielded Kalale N Keshavamurthy, who had lost to Prasad in the previous Assembly poll in 2013. While Karunaadu Party has fielded M Pradeepkumar, the remaining are independent candidates.

The segment has a total of 2,00,498 voters, including 1,01,267 men and 99,231 women. In Gundlupet, there are 2,00,862 voters, including 1,00,144 men, 1,00,701 women and 17 others. A total of seven candidates are in the fray. While BJP candidate is C S Niranjan Kumar, Congress has fielded late minister H S Mahadev Prasad's wife M C Mohanakumari.

There are 250 polling booths. Of them, 49 have been declared hyper-sensitive and 56 sensitive. One presiding officer and four polling officials will be posted in each polling centre. All poll officials have undergone rigorous training. As many as 1,400 officials have been appointed across the constituency.

One Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), one control unit and a Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) system will be used at each polling centre. Chamarajanagar District Election authorities have arranged 351 EVMs and 288 control units, besides 445 VVPATs. Counting of votes will be held on April 13 from 8 am. However, the model code of conduct will be in force till April 15, till the election process is completed.