More than 70 per cent voting: Sanjeev Kumar
State Assembly Election
Bengaluru, May 12: In the election held for 222 assembly constituencies in the state on Saturday, more than 70 per cent voting was registered, said State Chief Election Officer Sanjeev Kumar.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha here on Saturday evening, Sanjeev Kumar said that barring some minor incidents, the polling was peaceful across the state. Interestingly, youth, women and senior citizens turned to the polling stations in more number. All departments have cooperated well with the Election Commission. He would thank all the nodal officers, para-military forces, police personnel, and election officers deputed for election related works. The election was peaceful because of the guidance of the Central Election Commission, he said.
There were reports that VVPATs were not working properly in some places. Total 212 ballot units, 340 control units and 698 VV PATs have failed to function and they were replaced immediately. More than 600 engineers of BEL have taken care of the EVMs, he said.
Because of the technical problem in the serial number 9 of EVM at polling station-2 at Lottegollahalli polling station in Hebbala constituency, it was decided to conduct re-election in that polling station on May 14 from 7 am to 6 pm. Those who have exercised their votes in that polling station should vote once again, he said.
Preparations are on for conducting elections in Jayanagar and RR Nagar constituencies where election was not held on Saturday. The counting of votes of all 222 constituencies would be conducted on May 15 and the result would also be announced on the same day, he said.
Related to election malpractices, total 40,000 FIR were registered in the state. A sum of Rs 182 crore worth cash, gold and silver ornaments, liquor and other materials were seized. Total 600 pink polling stations were set up for women and 26 were set up for physically challenged voters in the state, he said.
The allegation of Brijesh Kalappa that whichever the button is pressed in the EVM at a polling station at RMV Second Stage was going to BJP was far from truth. Such problem was cropped up only at Lottegollahalli polling station. Apart from this incident, no such incidents were reported from any parts of the state, he said.
Percentage of voting in state
Belagavi- 71%
Bagalkote- 68%
Vijayapura- 63%
Kalaburgi- 56%
Bidar- 59%
Raichur- 61%
Koppal- 70%
Gadag- 68%
Dharwad- 66%
Uttara Kannada- 71%
Haveri- 76%
Ballari – 66%
Chitradurga- 76%
Davangere- 70%
Shivamogga – 73%
Udupi- 75%
Chikmagaluru- 70%
Tumakuru-73%
Chikballapura- 79%
Kolar- 77%
Bengaluru Rural – 76%
Ramanagar- 80%
Mandya- 78%
Hassan- 77%
Dakshina Kannada-73%
Kodagu- 69%
Mysuru- 68%
Chamarajnagar- 78%
Yadagiri- 60%
Bengaluru Central- 51%
Bengaluru North- 49%
Bengaluru South- 49%
Bengaluru Urban- 51%
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
