After a high octane campaigning that lasted for weeks, over five crore people in Karnataka will decide on who will form the next government in the state.
Voting for the Karnataka Assembly elections 2018 for 222 seats began at 7 am and will be on till 6 pm.
The two Constituencies where Poll has been deferred are -
The Election Commission (EC) on Friday May 11,2018 postponed voting in Bengaluru's Raja Rajeshwari (RR) Nagar segment to May 28,2018 in view of the voter ID cards case, and had earlier countermanded polling in the city's Jayanagar seat following the death of BJP contestant BN Vijay Kumar on May 04,2018
Over 2,600 candidates are in the fray -- more than 2,400 men and over 200 women.
The total voters including service electors according to the 2018 final rolls are 5,06,90,538, of whom 2,56,75,579 are male voters, 2,50,09,904 females and 5,055 transgender voters.
From all-women managed 'Pink Booths' to the use of third generation Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the Assembly elections in Karnataka are marked by several firsts.
India's IT hub saw electoral authorities initiate a slew of initiatives targeting a voting percentage of 75.
As the outcry over the alleged vulnerability of EVMs to tampering grew louder, the Election Commission has come up with the 'M3 EVMs' that are tamper-proof and stop when attempts are made to meddle with it.
On a pilot basis, the Election Commission (EC) chose five assembly constituencies in Bengaluru — Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Shivajinagar, Shanthinagar, Gandhi Nagar and Rajaji Nagar in Bengaluru.
However, election to the Rajarajeshwari Nagar has been deferred owing to largescale malpractices and a row over seizure of over 9,750 voter ID cards from a flat.
In a women-oriented step, 450 "pink booths" called 'Sakhi' have been set up.
Adding a riot of colours, the EC has set up ethnic polling booths in Mysuru, Chamarajnagar and Uttar Kannada districts, where polling booths match the lifestyle of tribal masses living there.
Like in every election, each booth is equipped with facilities such as wheelchairs for the differently-abled so they can exercise their franchise easily.
The BJP is contesting in 223 of the 224 seats, the Congress in 221. The JD(S)-BSP combine is contesting in 218 seats. 180 settling legislators are contesting. 1,142 Independents too are contesting in today's elections.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka faces a tough challenge from the BJP which is hoping to return to power in the state.
Former prime minister and JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda casts his vote at polling booth number 244 in Holenarasipura town in Hassan district
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