LS polls: Over 41% voter turnout in Karnataka's 14 constituencies as of 1 pm

An estimated 41.59 per cent turnout was reported at 1pm on Tuesday for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka in 14 constituencies.

The polling began at 7 am today and will end at 6 pm.

Out of the 14 segments, highest turnout of 45.69 percent was recorded in Chikkodi, followed by Shimoga 44.98 percent, and least was 37.48 percent in Gulbarga.

A total of 227 candidates — 206 men and 21 women — are in the fray for the second phase covering northern districts, where more than 2.59 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 28,269 polling stations.

The Congress and BJP are locking horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a fortnight in Karnataka.

It’s a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP in these segments. The JD(S) is not contesting in these seats and is supporting its NDA alliance partner — the BJP.

The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The first phase of polling in the other 14 seats in most of the southern and coastal districts was held on April 26.

The segments where elections are being held are: Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had swept all these 14 seats, defeating Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state back then.