Modi, Rahul encourage youth to vote in Karnataka

Voting in 222 of 224 constituencies in state will continue till 6 p.m. and the result will be declared on May 15.

PM Narendra Modi responds to Rahul Gandhi's congratulatory message on UP elections victory/ABP News image

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday encouraged the people of Karnataka, particularly youths, to come out and cast their votes in large numbers in the assembly election. "Urging my sisters and brothers of Karnataka to vote in large numbers today. I would particularly like to call upon young voters to vote and enrich this festival of democracy with their participation," Modi tweeted before the election began at 7 a.m.

For #KarnatakaPolling, PM @narendramodi tweets: Urging my sisters and brothers of Karnataka to vote in large numbers today. I would particularly like to call upon young voters to vote and enrich this festival of democracy with their participation.

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) May 12, 2018

Gandhi, in his tweet in Kannada, also urged the voters to participate in the election for the state's 15th Legislative Assembly where the three major contesting parties are Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular). "The voter turnout is a sign of dynamic democracy. I welcome all my young friends who are voting for the first time in Karnataka. People from Karnataka will be able to celebrate the largest festival of democracy with a great number of celebrations," Gandhi tweeted.

ಮತದಾರರು ತಮ್ಮ ಹಕ್ಕನ್ನು ತಪ್ಪದೇ ಚಲಾಯಿಸುವುದೇ ಕ್ರಿಯಾತ್ಮಕ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಸಂಕೇತ. ನಾನು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲ ಬಾರಿ ಮತ ಚಲಾಯಿಸುವ ನನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಯುವ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರನ್ನು ಸ್ವಾಗತಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜನತೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಅತೀದೊಡ್ಡ ಹಬ್ಬವನ್ನು ಸಂಭ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಆಚರಿಸಿ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಗೊಳಿಸುವಂತೆ ಕೋರಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೇನೆ.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 12, 2018

A total of 15.42 lakh voters, aged 18-19, have registered to cast their ballot for the first time. Over 5.06-crore electorate, including 2.56-crore men, 2.5-crore women and over 5,000 who identify themselves as the third gender are exercising their franchise. Voting in 222 of 224 constituencies in state will continue till 6 p.m. and the result will be declared on May 15.