Voters in the southern state of Karnataka started casting their ballots on Monday in the Assembly Elections 2023 to choose their representatives for the 224 assembly seats. The voting process started at 7 am and is expected to conclude at 7 pm today. Over 3.3 crore registered voters are eligible to cast their votes at 47,937 polling stations set up across the state.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), around 2.5 lakh polling personnel have been deployed to ensure a smooth and peaceful voting process. The ECI has also made special arrangements for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, who can avail of wheelchair facilities and priority voting.
The main contenders in the elections are the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), along with the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) and a few other regional parties. The BJP, which is currently in power, is aiming to secure another term in the state.
Security has been tightened in the state with over 2.4 lakh police personnel deployed across the state. The authorities have also imposed Section 144 in certain areas to prevent any untoward incidents during the elections.
The election results will be announced on May 12, and the fate of several key political leaders, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, will be decided. The outcome of the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 is crucial as it could impact the politics of the southern states of India.
