Bangalore, Aug 18 - Around 60 percent of over one million voters Tuesday exercised their franchise in five assembly by-elections in Karnataka, whose outcome will impact the standing of central minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and his predecessor.

Voting was poor in Govindarajnagar in west Bangalore at about 45 percent compared to polling in the other four constituencies, according to official figures from the state election office.

State Religious Endowment Minister V. Somanna is contesting Govindarajnagar as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate after defecting from the Congress.

It is a direct fight between him and Congress nominee Priya Krishna, son of party legislator M. Krishnappa.

Priya Krishna, contesting the polls for the first time, has declared assets worth Rs.770 crore. His father is a realtor and popularly known as 'layout Krishnappa'.

The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) led by former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda is backing Priya Krishna as nomination of its candidate was rejected.

Chittapur, where Kharge has fielded his son Priyank Kharge, registered 60 percent polling. The junior Kharge is contesting the polls for the first time. Chittapur is in Gulbarga in north Karnataka, about 600 km from here, and is a constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes.

The voting in other constituencies was 69 percent in Ramanagara, 50 km from Bangalore, 70 percent in Channapatna, 60 km away, and 62 percent in Kollegal in Chamarajnagar district, 120 km from here.

'The polling was peaceful in all the five constituencies,' Chief Electoral Officer C.