Boycott marks first phase

Chief Election Officer for Karnataka M N Vidyashankar said the final polling percentages for the state could climb as much as seven to 10 per cent. At many polling stations people were still waiting to vote at 5 pm. The final figure will be affected by the fresh numbers that will come in, he said.

While in most constituencies minority voters turned out in good numbers,nearly 4,900 voters from Alipur,listed at six polling stations in the area,boycotted the polls in protest against the murder of three men in Gujarat. Boycott of polls were also reported from Ramagondanahalli in the Bangalore rural segment,with nearly 1,500 voters staying away in protest against initiation of land acquisition process by the Bangalore Development Authority.