Sant Siddhalinga Swamiji of Tumakuru-based Siddhaganga Mutt, actor Ramesh Arvind, senior Congress leader G. Parameshwara and state government ministers R.K. Ashok, Araga Gyanendra, C.N. Ashwath Narayan and K. Sudhakar also exercised his franchise in the early hours of polling, which began at 7 am. Chief Minister Bommai cast his vote at a polling booth in Shiggaon in Haveri district. Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murthy cast their vote at Jayanagar in Bengaluru.