Polling has been began amid tight security in 89 constituencies across 11 districts in the first phase of Assembly elections in Karnataka at 7 am on Saturday. The districts where voting is taking place are: Tumkur, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Ramanagara, Mandya, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysore & Chamarajanagar.

An Election Comission officer said, “Elections are being held for the first time in the country after delimitation process”.

Heavyweights in the fray for this phase include former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S), seeking re-election from Ramanagara & Congress campaign committee chairman & former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, contesting from newly carved Varuna segment in Mysore District.

Security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of voting in the 18,500 polling stations. Polling will end at 5 pm.