Mysuru: The MCC Ward 32 by-poll saw a poor turnout yesterday, with only 47.99 percent voting recorded.

Out of the 10,258 voters in the Ward, only 4,923 cast their votes, with 2,464 women and 2,459 men exercising their franchise.

Booth No. 340 recorded the highest polling with 64.76 percent while Booth No. 333 recorded the lowest at 25.65 percent.

The polling took place at 12 booths — six in Nirmala Convent on V.V. Mohalla second main and six together in Government Primary School on third main V.V. Mohalla and Government PU College, Vontikoppal.

EVMs were used for the poll in which five candidates have locked their horns — SBM Manju of JD(S), K. Madesh of BJP, B.K. Prakash of Congress, Mangalamma of Bharatiya Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Janata Party and B.J. Mahabalaraj, an Independent.

However, the Ward is witnessing a three-cornered contest with SBM Manju of the JD(S), K. Madesh of the BJP and B.K. Prakash of the Congress locked in a keen tussle.

The by-poll was necessitated after JD(S) Corporator C. Mahadesh was disqualified following his conviction in a double-murder case. The polling began on a sedate note at 7 am but gained momentum as the day progressed. However, the turnout was well short of the expectation with only 47.99 % voting recorded, when voting concluded at 5 pm.

The low turnout has caused anxiety among the contestants, who had expected the voters to turn out in large numbers, with Sunday being a public holiday.

Soon after the voting concluded, the EVMs were shifted to the Strong Room in Srimanmaharaja Sanskrit Pathashala on Sayyaji Rao Road. Tight Police security has been provided at the Pathashala. The counting of votes will be taken up on July 5, when the fate of the candidate will be decided.