Bangalore (PTI): About 45 per cent of the 1.73 crore electorate have exercised their franchise till 1500 hours on Saturday in a largely peaceful polling process in 89 assembly constituencies spread over 11 districts in the first phase of assembly polls in Karnataka.

Barring stray incidents of protests in some areas over deletion of voters names from electoral rolls and incident of 'mild' lathicharge, the voting is underway in a peaceful manner under the strict vigil by 58,000 security personnel, official sources said here.

The fate of 953 candidates would be sealed in EVMs on Saturday when polling comes to an end by 1700 hours.