Bangalore, Sep 28 (IANS) Voting is underway in Karnataka for elections to 209 civic bodies and the election result is expected to have a decisive impact on the current power-sharing row between ruling coalition partners.
The coalition partners, Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP) are pitted against each other and against main opposition Congress in a three-cornered contest in majority of 4,920 seats, just five days ahead of power transfer from the JD-S to the BJP, due on Oct 3.
About 40 percent of nearly 9.3 million registered voters had cast their ballots till 2 p.m, according to state election commission officials in Bangalore.
The voting was peaceful except at three places in Kolar, Bangalore rural and Mandya districts where the police resorted to baton charge to disperse opposing groups, the police said.
In parts of Bellary district voting was suspended as the Communist Party of India Marxists (CPI-M) symbol of sickle and hammer was shown as that of the Communist Party of India (CPI).
Polling in these areas will be held Saturday, election officials said in Bangalore.
The counting will take place on Sunday, the officials added.