Bengaluru:  With the deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers for 14 LS seats in State that are going to polls on Apr.18 ending yesterday, the battle lines have been drawn for the first phase of polling in Karnataka.

In Tumakuru, where JD(S) supremo and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda is contesting as JD(S) – Congress coalition candidate, sitting MP Muddahanumegowda, who had filed his nomination as rebel Congress candidate, withdrew his nomination at the last minute yesterday.

Likewise, another Congress leader K.N. Rajanna too withdrew his nomination from Tumakuru, reportedly due to the intervention of the party high command. After deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended at 3 pm yesterday, the poll authorities allotted symbols to all the candidates who have remained in the fray.

Since one EVM can hold only 15 names, the election authorities will have to use two or more EVMs according to the number of candidates in fray in each Constituency. For example in Mysuru-Kodagu and Mandya, there will be two EVMs in each booth as there are 22 candidates contesting the elections from both the Parliamentary seats.