Voters from 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka will cast their votes as the second phase of the 2019 Indian general elections is underway. While the Congress-JD(S) alliance is confident of gaining more votes from the state, BJP is fighting the polls with one strong agenda - Make Modi PM Again.
Competition is tough in several constituencies from Karnataka including Mandya, where independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh takes on Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil.
At Bangalore North, incumbent BJP MP D.V. Sadananda Gowda faces tough competition from Congress minister Krishna Byre Gowda. The latter starred in a video that was released a few hours before PM Modi's Bangalore rally questioning BJP's fake promises made in 2014. This later became a talking point in and around the constituency, as campaigning reached its culmination.
BJP's youngest candidate, 28-year-old Tejasvi Surya contests from Bangalore South where he takes on Congress veteran B.K. Hariprasad. Even though Bangalore South seat has been an invincible BJP stronghold close to two decades, the Congress sniffs a chance highlighting the debutant's political inexperience.
Interestingly, Bangalore Central is the only constituency in the state which expects a triangular contest. However, the situation is not easy for independent candidate Prakash Raj as his rivals are BJP's P.C. Mohan and Congress' Rizwan Arshad.
Read more: Prakash Raj interview: Mr Modi or Mr Rahul Gandhi is not going to run your constituency
Swiggy delivery executive Jenifar Russel, who hit headlines recently, also contests from Bangalore Central.
An average of 61.94% voters turned up in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies of Karnataka to pick an MP on April 18.
While Dakshina Kannada tops the chart with the highest voter turnout (72.97%), constituencies in and around Bangalore showed poor figures as usual. Here are the estimates:
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Bangalore Rural - 59.43%
Bangalore North - 48.28%
Bangalore Central - 42.43%
Bangalore South -49.36%
Chikkballapur - 69.33%
Udupi-Chikmagalur -69.84%
Hassan - 71.20%
Chitradurga - 61.75%
Tumkur - 70.28%
Mandya - 71.75%
Mysore- 63.20%
Chamarajanagar - 66.51%
Kolar - 69.99%
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a couple of public meetings in Karnataka tomorrow.
He will fly to Karnataka after a rally held at P.M. Ground, Bajipura in Gujarat.
Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy takes a dig at PM Modi criticising him of resorting to "propaganda movie and TV channel in his name."
Kumaraswamy's tweet is an instant reply to PM Modi's mockery on him from the latter's Bagalkot rally held a few hours back.
At 5 pm, Tumkur votes most (60.86%) while Bangalore Central trails at 36.96% voter turnout.
Read more: Karnataka Polls: Deva Gowda on a strong wicket in Tumkuru
LIVE polling trends at other constituencies are as follows:
Udupi-Chikmagalur - 60.12%
Hassan - 62.43%
Dakshina Kannada - 60.46%
Chitradurga - 53.78%
Mandya - 55.15%
Mysore- 51.64%
Chamarajanagar - 54.05%
Bangalore Rural - 49.66%
Bangalore North - 39.72%
Bangalore South -40.67%
Chikkballapur - 54.92%
Kolar - 54.44%
According to reports, a pliant filed against BJP's Bangalore South candidate Tejasvi Surya for campaigning on social media when election is underway. Election Commission returning officer has filed the complaint with Siddapura police station in Bangalore South.
At 4 pm, here are the LIVE updates:
Udupi-Chikmagalur - 56.47%
Hassan - 57.34%
Dakshina Kannada - 60.46%
Chitradurga - 49.25%
Tumkur - 54.68%
Mandya - 55.15%
Mysore- 50.43%
Chamarajanagar - 51.43%
Bangalore Rural - 48.39%
Bangalore North - 39.07%
Bangalore Central - 36.96%
Bangalore South -40.14%
Chikkballapur - 54.92%
Kolar - 52.78%
Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy 'weak CM' in a public meeting at Bagalkot, North Karnataka.
"The weak CM is crying and ministers are involved in corruption. They know their days are numbered and therefore, they have started looting the state," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a campaign in Bagalkot, Karnataka. Watch Live here:
Karnataka LIVE polling percentage - Bangalore North records least turnout
Udupi-Chikmagalur - 53.32
Hassan - 52.74%
Dakshina Kannada - 60.02%
Chitradurga - 49.25%
Tumkur - 54.17%
Mandya - 48.16%
Mysore- 48.79%
Chamarajanagar - 44.59%
Bangalore Rural - 33.83%
Bangalore North - 34.20%
Bangalore Central - 28.65%
Bangalore South -33.36%
Chikkballapur - 50.63%
Kolar - 43.53%
Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar casts his vote at a polling booth in, Kanakapura Taluka.
Voters turnout in the key Lok Sabha constituencies in and around Bangalore:
Bangalore North- 29.69%
Bangalore South- 31.66%
Bangalore Central- 28.65%
Bangalore Rural- 33.83%
Chikabalapur- 37.59%
Members of Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) civic group in Bangalore distribute saplings to voters who have cast their votes.
"People should get over divisive politics to work towards nation building,” says Imtiaz Baig a Bangalore South voter who travelled from Hyderabad to exercise his right to vote.
BJP leader and former chief minister of Karnataka S M Krishna cast his vote in Bengaluru.
Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble casts his vote in South Bangalore.
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's latest tweet sparks controversy.
Read more: Bangalore Central: Will Congress unseat the BJP?
According to the Karnataka CEO website, 19.58% is the voter turnout recorded across the state, as of 11 am.
The same in key constituencies of Bangalore are as follows:
Bangalore South-19.69%
Banglore Central-15.27%
Bangalore North-15.85%
Rizwan Arshad, Congress candidate from Bangalore Central chose to commute in an autorickshaw with his wife as he came to exercise franchise in the city.
"There can be no nation building without the participation of its citizens," he tweeted after voting.
Independent candidate from Bangalore Central, Prakash Raj cast his vote in St Joseph's Indian High school polling station.
Post voting he said, "Vote if you are tired with your system and want to bring in the change."
Bangalore North Congress candidate Krishna Byre Gowda casts his vote.
He takes on BJP's D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who is the incumbent MP from the constituency
Read more: Ahead of PM Modi’s rally in Bengaluru, Congress releases video: ‘Where’s 2014 report card?
Voters turnout in 14 constituencies in Karnataka till 9 am is 1.14%
A senior citizen couple, 91-year-old Shrinivas and 84-year-old Manjula, cast their votes at a polling booth in Jayanagar of Bangalore South Parliamentary constituency.
Voters turnout in Bangalore North is 6.39%, Central is 5.41% and South is 9.23% till 9 am.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy votes .
He was accompanied by his son and Mandya LS candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy and his wife Anitha Kumaraswamy, Ramanagara MLA.
Read more: Lok Sabha elections: Sandalwood stars heat up Sumalatha’s campaign in Mandya
Union minister and Bangalore North BJP candidate D.V. Sadananda Gowda casts his vote in Bangalore.
He was accompanied by his family.
T Suneel Kumar, Commissioner of Police for Bangalore City T. Suneel Kumar castes his vote at Domlur.
Tejasvi Surya, BJP's Bangalore South candidate exercises franchise.
Initiating the #VoteMaadi challenge, the 28-year-old nominated three others, encouraging citizens to vote in high numbers.
Revathy Ashok, CEO of B.PAC, a Bangalore-based citizen group explains what delayed polling at Booth 98 of Bangalore Central constituency.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara casts his vote in Tumakuru
Lok Sabha polling faces hiccups in and around Bangalore.
EVMs malfunction at Vasanthapura, Shantinagar, Malur and Anekkal.
"Happy to be part of the festival of democracy to save my Constitution of India which is under threat," transgender activist Akkai Padmashali says after voting at Booth 19 (CV Raman Nagar) for Bangalore Central constituency
Issues reported at Booth 98 (Domlur School) of Bangalore Central constituency
Voters including pregnant women have been waiting since 7 am; many leave the queue.
Welcome to our live blog. The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 5 constituencies begins in Bangalore today. Follow this space for live updates.