Bangalore, May 9: Security has been beefed up ahead of first phase of Karnataka Assembly poll, as 89 constituencies of the 224 member house spread over 11 Districts will go to the polls on Saturday.

The state police are working hard to ensure peaceful and safe elections in Karnataka.

Some polling booths have been declared as hypersensitive and others as sensitive.

"About 30-32 percent of the polling booths have been classified as hypersensitive and another 30-35 percent have been classified as sensitive. Special arrangements are being made for these places," said Shrikumar, Director General of Police (DGP).

In all, 2140 electronic voting machines have been kept ready to be despatched to the 1965 polling stations.

In addition, 331 EVMS are kept ready for replacements, if necessary, in the polling booths.

In all, 15,000 government officials from the state and the Centre have been drawn for the election duty for the first phase of polling.

The second phase of polling will take place on May 16, when a total of 66 Assembly constituencies in 10 districts of Raichur, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada will face the ballot.

A total of 69 Assembly constituencies in eight districts of North Karnataka, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Bidar, Gulbaga, Bijapur, Bagalakot and Belgaum will face the ballot in the third phase.

The counting of votes in all the 224 constituencies will take place on May 25. (ANI)