Cricketers Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble among early voters in K'taka polls

Bengaluru:  Election Commission Brand Ambassador Rahul Dravid, ace  leggie Anil Kumble, former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Ministers  Ramalinga Reddy, H K Patil were among the early voters on Saturday when  election was held for 222 seats of Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Sri  Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumkur, who is aged 111 years  voted along with his disciples at the booth in the mutt premises.Scion  of Mysore Royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, cinema  actors B Sarojadevi, Leelavathi, Jaggesh, were also the early birds who  came to their respective booths and voted.

In Kodagu district a bride cast her vote immediately after her marriage at Kavalanakoli village in Madikeri, district.Lingayat  seer Mate Mahadevi who is heading a movement for separate status to  Lingayat sect came in a wheelchair and cast her vote in Rajajinagar in  the city.

In a tragic incident a 70 year-old Anne Acharya died of  heart attack while going to polling booth at Andige village in  Belthangadi.The all-women 'pink booths' attracted the voters  across the State. Given a fresh coat of pink paint and was draped with  pink balloons and festoons they looked attractive. In these booths all  personnel including the polling officials and police personnel are  women.(UNI)