In Bellary, voting began at 5.30 am

BELLARY, SEPT 6: Enthusiasm. That was the Bellary electorate's middle name on Sunday.Almost all roads were deserted while people queued u...

BELLARY, SEPT 6: Enthusiasm. That was the Bellary electorate8217;s middle name on Sunday.

Almost all roads were deserted while people queued up in front of polling booths early in the morning. Women outnumbered men in most booths.

Two youths, first-time voters, probably couldn8217;t sleep the night before in their excitement. They stood, one behind the other, in front of the MBSL School booth in Gandhi Nagar at 5.30 am, though polling was to begin only at 7 am.

At Parvathi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Satyanarayana Peth areas, where polling is generally around 35 per cent, the turnout was 70 per cent this time.

Well-known cardiologist B K Srinivasa Murthy told The Indian Express that he had voted in every election and had never had to wait in a queue. But this time: Well, not only did he have to stand in a queue, he had wait for over an hour too!

While initial figures put the polling percentage at 70, officials said the final estimate might be nearer the 75 per cent-mark.

Polling was peaceful andSuperintendent of Police Prashanth Kumar Thakur confirmed that no untoward incidents were reported from anywhere in the district.

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However, the BJP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission that in several booths Nos. 133, 151, 152, 153, 158, 164, 165, 173, 175, 176, 178, 179, 181 to 203, BJP agents were sent out. In booths 134, 185 and 186, indelible ink was not applied to voters8217; fingers.

Rajendra Gokhale, State BJP executive member also said they had brought complaints to the notice of district authorities that a certain Chitti Narayana Rao, who was facing an externment notice, was going around in a car with a Congress flag on it.

Sushma Swaraj visited some of the polling booths.

A late night agency report said authorities promulgated prohibitory orders in Millepet area in the town after two rival groups quarrelled, leading to tension.

Top officials including Inspector-General of Police A R Infant had rushed to the spot.

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K C Kondaiah, former Congress MP, said that Bajrang Dal and BJPworkers came in large numbers to a booth, threatened police and election officials and attempted to snatch ballot papers.

He said 500 of the 750 voters in the booth had cast their votes when the incident took place.

Congress MLA Diwakar Babu has demanded re-poll in the booth. Top officials are camping in the area.