The highest polling of 90% was recorded in Melukote and Hoskote. The Kanakapura seat of Congress president D K Shivakumar and Varuna seat of former CM Siddaramaiah saw polling of over 85 % and 84 % respectively.
Polling is being held for 224 seats in what is being seen mainly as a three-cornered contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda s Janata Dal-Secular.
Voting for the high stakes Assembly elections in Karnataka began early on Wednesday, in a state where the ruling BJP is eyeing to script history by retaining its southern citadel while a combative Congress eyes a comeback ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Polling is being held for 224 seats. Counting of polled votes will be taken up on May 13.