Vokkaliga Sangha poll sees

CHANDRASHEKAR G

The high voltage Vokkaliga battle (goudara gaddala) drawn its curtain at 5 pm on Sunday. The fate of 221 candidates have been sealed in the ballot box.
An overall of 56 per cent polling has ben recorded from 11 districts. Chitradurga and Shivamogga-Uttara Kannada recorded highest polling percentage with 84 per cent. Mandya recorded lowest voter turnout with just 56 per cent. The reason for lukewarm response for the voterturn out remained unknown.
The elections to the Vokkaliga Sangha directors post held peacefully across the state. The polls dragged most of the vokkaliga leaders to the ground including MLAs representing the community.
Enthusiastic voters including women started to visit polling stations to elect their favourite candidates. The voter turn out was low until 11 am. However, the voter turnout picked up post 11 am.
At Hosakote, the local MLA Sharat Bachchegowda was seen at the polling stations along with his followers. Hot, spicy and sumptuous biriyani was served at the polling stations to the voters.
Bangalore urban, Bangalore rural, Ramanagara and Krishnagiri recorded 71 %, Mysuru saw 70 %, Mandya witnessed 56 %, Hassan saw 83 %, Tumakuru witnessed 78, Chitradurga recorded 84 %, Kolar and Chikkaballapur saw 74 %, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi recorded 83, Kodagu saw 82 %, Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada witnessed 84 % while Chikmagalur saw 69 per cent.
The fate of all the candidates will be decided on Decemebr 15.