From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 19: Here’s the equation for Karnataka’s May 5 Assembly Elections. Total number of Constituencies is 224 and the total number of Candidates is 3,957.
However, the number of Candidates is as on Thursday, April 17, the last date for filing nominations.
The number of candidates could come down after scrutiny of nominations and the final withdrawals on April 20, which is the last day for doing so.
Thus, the exact equation will be known only on April 20 evening.
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told presspersons that scrutiny of nominations in the 224 Assembly segments was in progress.
April 17 was the last day for filing nominations. April 20 is the last day for withdrawal.
Jha said 23 constituencies have more than 16 candidates and eight assembly segments had over 32 candidates.
Only 16 names can be accommodated in each ballot unit.
If the actual number of candidates in any constituency exceeds 16, additional ballot units will have to be deployed in such assembly constituencies, he said.
KGF has 42 while Deodurga 6
The highest number of candidates, who filed their nomination papers was in KGF (42) while n Devadurga in Raichur had the lowest number (6) of candidates, the CEO said.
Jha said more than 20 lakh new voters have been added, and the total number of electorate eligible to cast vote was likely to be around 4.36 crore after deletions in the State.
Authorities seized cash of around Rs 1.4 crore and 500 cases of liquor on Wednesday and Thursday.
Cash seizures since yesterday included those from Hiriyur (Rs 60 lakh), Varthur (Rs 25 lakh), Gokak (Rs 11 lakh), Savadatti (Rs 8.38 lakh), Malur (Rs 6 lakh) and Tiptur and Raichur (Rs 5 lakh each).
FIRs have been registered in these cases, and several persons have been arrested in this connection, he said.
A truck-load of 500 cases of Indian made liquor valued at Rs 10 lakh, were confiscated near Gulbarga. The truck came from Madhya Pradesh, Jha said.
Blast Victims can be Compensated
The model code of conduct is not applicable in providing compensation to injured persons in a low intensity blast at Malleswaram in the City on Wednesday, the Chief Electoral Officer said.
Jha said the Election Commission of India’s code of conduct was not be applicable in releasing compensation by the government to the injured persons in the blast.
The code of conduct also would not come in the way of holding religious festivals and programmes. However, the religion and politics should not be mixed, he said.