Karnataka—

An estimated 65 per cent of the about 4.36 crore electorate voted in the largely peaceful Assembly polls in Karnataka on Sunday amid projections that the beleaguered ruling BJP was on a sticky wicket against a resurgent Congress.

The 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. vote kicked off on a brisk pace initially but appeared to lose steam as the mercury soared before picking up momentum again in the last hours in 223 segments, where a total of 2,940 candidates were in the fray.

After nine hours of voting, there was average polling of just 50 percent in Karnataka today. There was an initial burst of voters in the morning and first three hours registered 20 percent turnout but it lost momentum in the afternoon due to heat of a hot summer.

At 4 pm, the voting in different districts was: Bangalore: 45 percent, Bangalore rural: 40, Mysore: 50, Haveri: 55, Gulbarga: 50, Mangalore: 44, Chamrajanagar: 50, Bidar: 40, Dharwad: 55, Baglkote: 41, Ramnagar: 57, Gadag: 42, Belgaum: 52, Chitradurga: 45, Mandya: 53, Davangere: 46, Bellary: 35, Koppal: 52, Chikkaballapur: 58, Uttar Kannada: 46, Udupi: 52, Tumkur: 51, Raichur: 46, Chikmagalur: 40, Hassan: 44, Bijapur: 48, Yadgir: 43 and Kodagu: 55.

About 40 per cent of the 4.36 crore people voted till 2 pm in the polling for 223 assembly seats. Election in the Periyapatna constituency, which is 70 kms from Mysore, was postponed to May 28 following the death of BJP candidate. There are nearly 3000 candidates in the fray for the 225-strong Assembly; 224 MLAs are elected and one is nominated.

As many as 1.35 lakh police personnel - 60,000 from the state, 20,000 home guards and rest from central paramilitary and neighbouring states

Among the early voters today was BS Yeddyurappa - the BJP's first Chief Minister who quit the party in December and set up the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP). He voted from his constituency of Shikaripura.

Polling began on Sunday for the 14th Karnataka Legislative Assembly on a brisk note, despite hot weather prevailing across the state.

The Congress has pulled out all the stops to return to power in a complex battle after more than an eight year long gap.

As many as 1.35 lakh police personnel -- 60,000 from the state, 20,000 home guards and rest from central paramilitary and neighbouring states -- have been deployed for the single phase poll in which more than 4.36 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise.

Polling which commenced at 7 am would continue till 6 pm with the timing extended by an hour in 223 Assembly segments of the total 224. Election in Periyapatna was countermanded to May 28 following the death of BJP candidate.

The ruling BJP, its main opponent Congress and JD-S of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda are the key players, but the presence of Karnataka Janata Party led by former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has thrown in complexity.

Some poll surveys have predicted anti-incumbency swing against the BJP's first ever government in the South that they say would propel the Congress to be the single largest party or be within the striking distance of seat of power.

JD-S is hoping to break new grounds beyond its stronghold in the old Mysore region, while KJP is aiming to play spoiler to BJP's chances. Both are fancying for themselves the role of a "king maker" in the event of a fractured mandate.

The poll fate of nearly 3,000 candidates would be sealed on Sunday. Prominent among them are Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Congress leader Siddaramiah, Yeddyurappa, KPCC president G. Parameshwara, Deputy Chief Minsiters K.S. Eswarappa and R. Ashoka.

Electoral authorities have set up about 52,000 booths of which about 10,000 have been identified as hypersensitive and more than as 14,000 as sensitive, which would come under the watchful eyes of officials with the help of web cameras.

As many as 65,000 electronic voting machines, which include about 10 per cent kept as reserve, are being used in the elections for which more than 2.5 lakh polling officers are on duty.

In the 2008 elections, BJP secured 110 seats, three short of majority and formed the government with the help of five independents who were made ministers. Congress bagged 80 seats and JD-S 28. The overall voter turnout then was 64.91 per cent.

Keeping in mind the Lok Sabha polls and as many as four states - Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajastan - going to elections by end of 2013 and four more states - Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa and Sikkim - to face polls in the first half of 2014 (almost coinciding with Lok Sabha polls), the outcome on May 8 is crucial to national parties