Karnataka Assembly by-polls: EVMs malfunction for 2nd time, voters’ names missing in Bengaluru’s Mahalakshmi Layout
While some voters in Mahalakshmi Layout were irked over EVMs malfunctioning, voters in other wards were furious over their names missing from the voters list during Karnataka Assembly by-polls
Bengaluru: Much to the annoyance of the voters, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) malfunctioned for the second time in polling booth number 188 in Bengaluru’s Mahalakshmi Layout constituency on Thursday (December 5) during the Karnataka Assembly by-polls. The voters were furious as the polling officials failed to rectify the machines.
Things went out of hand when voters started protesting over missing names in voters' list in Nandini Layout ward in Mahalakshmi Layout. The voters lashed out at polling officials over missing names and argued that they had cast their votes during the 2018 Assembly polls but now their names were missing.
One of the voters said, “We cannot cast our votes today and the police told us to leave immediately. How are we supposed to vote this time? When we asked the polling officials about the issue, they said we can vote next time. We are not here to create ruckus but just want to exercise our franchise.”
With voting underway in 15 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, the voter turnout was very poor with only 17.60% voting until 11 am. It was even worse in Bengaluru as voter turnout in all four constituencies in the city were poor.
Meanwhile, activists staged a silent protest against disqualified MLAs in Bengaluru’s KR Puram and said the elections mean nothing to these leaders who seem not to care for the welfare of the people.
Former Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hedge and Sandalwood actor Ajay Rao cast their votes and asked people to come out and vote. Hegde said that the polls were unwanted and unnecessary as they are just wasting money in the name of elections.
Elderly persons led the way as many came out and exercised their franchise across the 15 constituencies. While most booths wore a deserted look, the older citizens turned up early in the morning to set an example to the younger generation.
SL No |
Constituency |
Voting % 1 pm |
1 |
Gokak |
37 |
2 |
Athani |
41 |
3 |
Yeshwanthpur |
27 |
4 |
Kagwad |
38 |
5 |
Shivajinagar |
13 |
6 |
KR Pet |
39 |
7 |
Vijayanagar |
35 |
8 |
Hunsur |
38 |
9 |
Hoskote |
33 |
10 |
Mahalakshmi Layout |
23 |
11 |
KR Puram |
14 |
12 |
Chikkaballapur |
39 |
13 |
Hirekerur |
39 |
14 |
Ranebennur |
36 |
15 |
Yellapur |
42 |