Udupi : The Udupi – Chikmagalur Lok Sabha by-polls, which began at a snail’s pace at 8:00 a.m. on March 18 Sunday, picked up speed toward the evening, and by 5:00 p.m., 68 percent of the voters had cast their votes.

Pejawar Mutt Swamiji Shri Vishweshateertha Swamiji cast his vote at a polling booth in Udupi North.

Polling booths in urban areas witnessed brisk polling, but people in rural areas were not that enthusiastic.

In Naxal-infested zones, people were afraid to leave their homes because of the heavy security around. The very sight of so many armed policemen around scared the villagers.

Local police forces and BSF personnel were deployed in large numbers in Naxal-infested villages such as Seetanadi, Kabbinale, Someshwar, and Hebri.

Alevoor witnessed a minor protest after 40 immigrant labourers from Rajasthan were no permitted to vote.