UDUPI/CHIKMAGALUR: The polling for the by-election to the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency was largely peaceful on Sunday barring a few incidents of verbal duels and boycotting of polls.
A voter turnout of 65.94 per cent was recorded in the constituency with the pace of polling picking up in the afternoon. Voters came out in large numbers in Naxal-affected areas of the constituency, particularly in Sringeri. In Udupi district, Naxal-affected areas like Nadpalu, Kabbinale, Ajekaru, Amasebailu and Someshwara too witnessed brisk polling.
Around 100 slum dwellers of Pragathi Nagara, in Alevoor village staged a protest near the polling booth protesting non-enrollment of their names in the voters’ list. BJP candidate Sunil Kumar exercised his franchise at Pervaje in Karkala taluk, while Congress candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde cast his vote at Korgi in Kundapur taluk.
In Chikmagalur district, polling began on a dull note but gained momentum as the day progressed. Residents of Yalugere in the Tarikere taluk boycotted polling in protest against the lack of basic amenities. At Vijayapura, Congress and BJP workers sporting their party flags attempted to trespass into the restricted area resulting in verbal clashes . In the Naxal-infested areas of Sringeri and Mudigere taluks, polling was trouble-free, thanks to tight police security blanket.In Sringeri segment, there was a poor turnout, except in Naxal-infested areas where 85 percent of voters exercised their franchise.