Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 67.27% voter turnout in Kerala, 64.40% in Karnataka

Amid scorching heat, the two southern states of Karnataka and Kerala have begun voting for Phase 2 of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. 

In phase two of elections, these are the constituencies in Karnataka that vote on April 26: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru South, Chikkaballapura and Kolar.

In Kerala, all constituencies are voting on April 26.

Kerala has recorded 11.98% voter turnout as of 9 am. Alappuzha tops the list with 13.63%, followed by Palakkad at 13.57%. Vadakara has polled the least with 10.14%.

Karnataka has recorded 9.21% voter turnout as of 9 am. Dakshina Kannada tops the list with 14.33% , Chamarajanagar and Mandya the least with 7.70%

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has casted his vote at Pinarayi RC Amala School in Kannur.

Kerala has recorded a voter turnout of 25.61% as of 11 am. Chalakudy has polled the most with 27.68, while Ponnani has polled the least with 21.72%

As of 11 am, the voter turnout in Karnataka is 22.34%. The highest turnout of 30.98% is in Dakshina Kannada, while the lowest is in Bengaluru Central at 19.21%.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, who is contesting from Mandya, casts his vote at Kethaganahalli village in Ramanagara district.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah cast his vote at his native Siddaramanahundi of Mysuru taluk, along with his son Dr S Yathindra. Speaking to mediapersons, he said that Congress candidates will win in Mysore-Kodagu, Chamarajnagar, Hassan, and Mandya constituencies.

FIR against Chikkabllapura BJP candidate K Sudhakar: EC

The Flying Surveillance Team (FST) of Chikkabllapura seized cash worth Rs 4.8 crores. An FIR also has been lodged by the SST against BJP candidate K Sudhakar, on April 25 at Madanayakanahally police station, under sections 123 (corrupt practices) of Representation of the People Act and 171 (B,C,E,F) (bribery;undue influence on electors) of IPC.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy accused the Congress party of allegedly distributing gift cards in the Bengaluru rural Lok Sabha constituency. He criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that it had failed to ensure transparent elections.

Kumaraswamy further alleged that followers of DK Suresh were distributing QR code gift coupons in the constituency. He claimed that when workers from BJP and JD(S) attempted to intervene and stop the distribution, they were subjected to assault.

Kerala records 33.4% votes by 12.15 pm. Attingal has polled the highest with 35.15%, while Ponnani has registered the lowest of 29.66%.

Karnataka Deputy CM & Congress leader DK Shivakumar cast his vote in Kanakapura, along with his brother DK Suresh and daughter Aisshwarya DKS Hegde. DK Suresh is contesting from Bangalore rural constituency.

As of 1 pm, the voter turnout in Karnataka is 38.23%. The highest turnout is in Dakshina Kannada with 48.10%, while the lowest is in Bengaluru Central at 30.10%.

Kerala has recorded 39.26% voter turnout as of 1 pm. Kannur has polled the highest of 42.11% while Ponnani has recorded the lowest with 34.96%

2 pm update of voter turnout: Kerala has recorded 44.86% of votes, with highest in Alappuzha - 47.14%, while Ponnani remains the lowest with 40.38%.

Kerala reaches 50% voter turnout at 3 pm. Kannur records highest at 52.52% while Ponnani is the lowest at 45.29%.

Polling percentage in Karnataka is 50.93% as of 3 pm. The highest turnout is in Dakshina Kannada with 58.76%, while the lowest is in Bengaluru Central at 40.10%.

BJP Lok Sabha candidate for Bengaluru Rural and son-in-law of JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, Dr CN Manjunath voted with his family from Padmanabhanagar in south Bengaluru. "Each and every vote of yours will be the foundation for the prosperity of India. Let's vote in record numbers in Karnataka today and on May 7 this time," he said.

Kerala sees 56.10% voter turnout as of 4 pm. Kannur polls the highest with 58.99% while Ponnani records the lowest with 51.41%.

The Election Commission of India has filed an FIR against Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. Karnataka's Chief Election Officer, Manoj Kumar Meena, said the FIR was filed at Jayanagar Police Station for posting a video on his X handle, soliciting votes on the ground of religion.

Kerala records 60.23% voter turnout at 5 pm. Kannur polls the highest with 63.72% and Ponnani records the lowest with 55.69%.

As of 5 pm, the voter turnout in Karnataka is 63.90%. The highest turnout is in Mandya with 74.87%, while the lowest is in Bengaluru Central at 48.61%.

Kerala sees 67.27% voter turnout at 6 pm - Kannur polls the highest with 71.54% and Ponnani records the lowest at 63.39%.