Bangalore : The timings of the Karnataka Assembly elections to be  held on May 5 has been increased by an hour. Polling hours will now be from  7 am to 5 pm instead of the earlier 8 am to 5 pm.

The Election Commissioner announced its decision on April 9, Tuesday. Informing this,  Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath said representatives of various political parties met him and Election Commissioners H.S. Brahma and S.N.A. Zaidi and requested that the balloting time be advanced in view of the intense heat in May, which is the peak summer month in the state.
It may be recalled here that mercury levels are soaring at several  parts of the state and stand at 40 degree Celsius. The Election Commissioner also informed that political parties will be permitted to provide drinking water facilities to voters close by the polling booth.

The CEC and two ECs had arrived here on April 8, Monday to review the preparations for the coming elections.Though the election commission itself would be distributing voter slips to all voters this time. Political parties can also do so near polling booths as has been the practice all these years.