Bangalore: Third phase of polling for Karnataka Assembly elections witnessed 61per cent voter turnout.
In the third and final phase 69 Assembly seats went to polls on Thursday.
Polling, which began on a dull note in Belgaum, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Dharwad, Bagalkot, Haveri, Gadag and Bidar districts, picked up momentum later in the day, despite the oppressive heat conditions.
However, the scorching sun in the peak of summer had its final say as the voting percentage remained modest in most parts of the eight districts.
Karnataka Chief Electoral officer MN Vidyashankar said polling was peaceful in almost all places and no untoward incident was reported.
Malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were reported in some booths, however it was attended to immediately.
At Bhogur polling station in Khanapur taluk in the border district of Belgaum, polling was suspended for some time following objection by the public to the behaviour of the polling official who had allegedly insisted the electorate to cast their votes for a particular candidate.
Karnataka Chief Electoral officer M N Vidyashankar said polling had been peaceful in almost all places and no untoward incidents were reported.
Voting was delayed for more than four hours due to non-availability of photo ID cards in Aladatti village in Kalghatgi constituency from where Santosh Lad, brother of 'Mine King' Ashok Lad is contesting.
A total of 710 voters in the village were not allowed to vote since they did not possess the ID cards. They could not produce ration cards as proof either as the Tahsildar had collected ration cards from all the houses for official purpose.
Miffed village elders decided to boycott the polls. District officials rushed to the village and convinced the villagers and allowed them to vote after the elders confirming the identity of the voters in writing.
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