Pics: Meryick D'Silva / Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD/SP)
Mangaluru, May 28: The mustering and de-mustering for gram panchayat polls was held at Padua Educational Institutions campus here on Thursday May 28 amidst much confusion. The voting will be held on Friday May 29.
The ballot papers were supposed to arrive at the venue from the taluk office at 8 am, but there was no sign of it till almost 11.30 am. The election duty officials were asked to come at 8 am, which they did, and waited without any food or water. The venue seemed too congested too.
Those who have been assigned election duty were supposed to register before 10.45 am, but even after an hour many had failed to do so.
Speaking to daijiworld, ADC said that the confusion prevailed due to shortage of workers. "As there was shortage of workers, we could not get the ballot papers on time. Ten persons were assigned for the job, but only four showed up. The papers were supposed to reach Padua at 9 am, but reached only at 11.30 am. The vehicle that was supposed to take the ballot papers reached taluk office late due to heavy traffic," he said.
Speaking to mediapersons, deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim said, "All preparations are in place for the gram panchayat election which is going to be held tomorrow. Ballet boxes and papers were supposed to be carried by the election officers to their respected booths. We have also given them training beforehand.
"Dakshina Kannada district has a good history of achieving high voting percentages. Even this time we are expecting the same. Let it be a healthy election. No illegal activity has been reported so far, but there are a few small mistakes which happen everywhere. In border areas of the district, we have assigned more guards for more security. The police department is doing a great job. Heavy security has been imposed in sensitive areas where communal clashes had happened earlier," he added.
In Dakshina Kannada district, 2,700 police and home guards staff have been deployed on election duty. Deputy commissioner of the district, A B Ibrahim, and SP, Sharanappa, said in a press conference that regular combing operation is in progress in naxal hit areas to instill a sense of confidence among the villagers there.
Out of 880 polling booths in the district, 65 have been identified as naxal-prone, 139 as super sensitive, 216 as sensitive, and 460 as normal booths. Security arrangements will be beefed up depending on the situation prevailing on Friday. A total of 2,000 policemen will be on duty. In addition to state industrial security force contingents from the city and Bengaluru, Karnataka State Reserve Police, district armed reserve police, and a company of Kerala police will be on polling duty.
Sixty-one mobile sector squads and 10 supervisory mobile squads will be keeping an eye on the election proceedings. In selected centres, proceedings will be recorded on video, the SP said.
Deputy commissioner, A B Ibrahim, earlier said that the polling percentage for the 2010 gram panchayat election was 73.51 percent, and all efforts are made to improve this percentage this time.
Government offices, government factories, industrial concerns, educational institutions, schools and colleges located within gram panchayat limits where election is scheduled will remain closed on Friday, a government notification said.
Because of the election, schools will reopen after summer holidays on June 1 instead of May 29.
Teachers in Udupi miffed with relentless duty
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, May 28: The mustering and de-mustering for gram panchayat election in Udupi was held at at Saint Cecilia School here on Thursday May 28.
Around 91 city and KSRTC buses were used for the purpose, which led to a shortage in public transport and created confusion among the people. Moreover, at the mustering centre too, confusion prevailed as the buses were parked haphazardly all over the place with no clear information or stickers pasted about polling areas they were designated for.
The primary school teachers who are assigned election duty said that they were fed up as they have not been able to enjoy their vacation at all. "Soon after the exams, we had valuation work, and then the census, and now this election duty. Schools reopen in another two days. We have no time for our families at all because of this tight schedule," they said.
The entire process was held amidst tight security.
SP Annamalai said that there are 907 polling booths in Udupi district. Candidates in 70 areas will be elected unanimously, hence no polling will be held there.
The police department has made all necessary arrangements. Security has been tightened in 54 Naxal-affected polling stations, of which 27 are in Karkala and 27 in Kundapur.
The SP said that he has specially focussed on politically active areas and expressed hopes that the election would go on smoothly.