Bhatkal: A voter turnout of 76.52% was recorded in Uttara Kannada district, including 66.02% in Bhatkal taluk, in the Karnataka Legislative Council’s West Graduates’ Constituency election held from 8 am to 4 pm on Friday. Polling passed off peacefully, with no untoward incidents reported in the district.
Voters began queuing up at polling stations early in the morning to avoid the heat and exercised their franchise peacefully.
At the polling station set up at St. Michael’s School in Karwar, Deputy Commissioner K. Lakshmi Priya, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dileesh Shashi, Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N., Additional Deputy Commissioner Sajid Mulla, Additional Superintendent of Police Krishnamurthy and Tahsildar Nishchal Noronha stood in the queue alongside other voters and cast their votes.
In Bhatkal taluk, polling was held at Mini Vidhana Soudha. Of the 1,136 registered voters, 750 cast their votes, recording a turnout of 66.02%. Additional Superintendent of Police Krishnamurthy also visited the polling station in Bhatkal from Karwar to review the arrangements and the polling process.
The West Graduates’ Constituency comprises Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri districts. A total of 14 candidates are in the fray, including Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai and BJP candidate S.V. Sankannur.