Mangalore: Fifth and Final Update - It's Curtains with  50 to 55% Polling

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 5-15 pm
Update 5

from Melka Miyar and Gladson D'Almeida from Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
supported by Ganesh S Perla, Sphoorti Ullal and Rajesh Shetty

Mangalore, Jun 2: Now most of the leaders of all the leading political parties can heave a sigh of relief since the Ullal by-poll went on peacefully excect a negligible incident or two. 

Tight security, stringent methods employed by the district administration and the election commission resulted in free and fair polling.  On the other hand the candidates are now waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the election which will be known only once the sealed ballot boxes are opened at 8 am on Tuesday June 5.

As the last hour of polling approached, some policemen hailing from the area were seen rushing to the booth to cast their vote.  Since it was Saturday, workers and students who had only half a day’s duty or schooling went to exercise their right in the evening.

At Ranipura huge queues of women waiting in the hot sun to cast their votes told the entire story that people had indeed taken this election seriously.  This also suggests that they are keen on having a person who can ensure their safety, welfare and development of the constituency.

Though final count of the polling is not yet available, sources said that around 55 up to 60 per cent of votes may have  been cast during the day.  This figure might change once the final count is available.

The peaceful poll has once again assured that democracy is still intact in the district and the people here want to live peacefully with their neighbours.  Even the entire campaign was peaceful and the chief minister who was impressed with this had thanked all the political parties and people for this.

Saturday, Jun 2, 2007 - 2-20 pm
Update 4

Mangalore: Ullal By-poll Update 4 -- U T Khader Accused of Code of Conduct Violation

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)

Pics Sphoorti Ullal

Though election malpractices are not on the higher side in the ongoing Ullal by-poll, a few stray incidents have been reported. Congress candidate U T Khader was seen speaking on his mobile phone in the polling booth at BM School at Ullal.

File pic of Congress candidate U T Khader
(Pic Sphoorti Ullal) 

Sources said that BJP workers protested when Khader tried to enter in the restricted area along with 10 of supporters.  This gave way for an altercation for a little while in the area.  However, the police managed to take control over the situation immediately.

On the other hand election observers have been visiting each booth to ensure free and fair polling.  There is a strict vigil over each polling booth to check proxy polling.  In al 1,45,000 voters have been issued voters' ID card.  They cannot use any other identity proof to cast their vote.  So chances of proxy polling have drastically come down, said sources.  This may prove a thorn in the flesh for political parties who thrive on proxy polling.

Reports reaching Daijiworld also confirmed that two persons each from different parties were held while distributing money to voters at Kallapu and Madaninagar.

Community's Initiatives to Ensure Cent Per Cent Polling

From Melka Miyar and Gladson D’Almeida at Ullal

Voting is a golden opportunity for a citizen in India to decide as who will rule them. Hence, some organizations have taken initiative to educate voters in order to create awareness about the importance of voting.

Catholic Sabha, which has been taking special initiatives to educate Christians in this regard. The leaders of Catholic Sabha have made it mandatory that all the Christians in the constituency must exercise their franchise. In the last few days thy had organized a few meeting towards this and on Saturday they have made special arrangements to see that all the Christians who are eligible to vote, cast their francise. Those who are not going the polls are being appealed repeatedly by Cathlic Sabha members to go to the nearby polling booth and cast their vote.

Clement, former president of Catholic Sabha Permannur speaking to Daijiworld said that they are putting in all their efforts to ensure that Catholic community records cent per cent voting.

This was so evident when Edward D’Souza, a resident of Adamkudru whose leg is fractured owing to a fall while plucking coconuts was brought to the polling booth by his neighbours to exercise his right.

Saturday, Jun 2, 2007 - 12-15 pm
Update 3

Mangalore: Ullal By-poll Update 3 - Brisk Polling, Malpractices Reported

by Melka Miyar for Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Pics Sphoorti Ullal

As in the case of any election as a rule, the Ullal by-poll is not free from malpractice.

A person distributing money to the voters as incentive was apprehended by the Konaje police at Manjanady on Saturday morning.

Cash worth Rs 62 thousand and a Toyot Innova car bearing registration number KA 02 MB 6080 were seized by the police.

Later reports said that the police have arrested 2 persons. But they have not revealed the names of the arrested.

At many booths, senior citizens and differently abled persons were seen being led or carried by relatives to the booths to enable them to cast their votes.

Sources confirmed that about 15% of the total votes have been cast by now. During the first few hours, polling booths witnessed long queues as the daily wage workers had to go to wrork thereafter. Same was the case with students and employees who had their offices outside the constituency.

But in rural areas, the position was different. As time passed, the crowds increased gradually. At Assaigoli, police had to intervene to control the crowd near the polling booth.

Saturday, Jun 2, 2007 - 10-30 am
Update 2
Mangalore: Ullal By-poll Update 2: Polling Gains Momentum

by Melka Miyar from the spot
Pics Rajesh Shetty

News Flash: A person distributing money to voters as incentive was arrested by the police at Manjanady and a cash amount of Rs 65,000 and a vehicle were seized on Saturday morning during the polling. Further details are awaited

Now it is the voters’ time. Voters have started sealing the fate of the candidates in the ballot boxes. 

Now that the polling is in progress is little that the political parties can do officially.  No more campaigning, no more coaxing and pleading.  Of course there will be few trick played by these parties at the eleventh hours such as distributing money, gifts etc. 

But both election commission and district administration is alert and any violation in this regard would spell doom for these parties.  In view of the high stakes involved and significance attached to this by-election, almost the entire police hierarchy and district administrative machinery is found in Ullal, trying their best to ensure that everything goes on smoothly till the end.

As reported earlier, though the polling began on a sedate note in the early hours, it has now gained momentum.  The clean sky and bright sun have brought a broad smile the faces of candidates and leaders of political parties.  Owing to a few light showers in the morning, candidates and party leaders were in tension about voters not turning out to exercise their franchise. 

Heavy rush was found at almost every polling booth as the day progressed.  It is evident that voters are keen on casting their votes without fail.

Meanwhile police have left no stone unturned to ensure fair polling and maintain law and order.  At Talapady, paramilitary forces have been deployed to check the vehicles coming from Kerala to prevent those with intentions of proxy polling.

The election commission has put restrictions on political parties on transportation of  voters by vehicles.  But there was seen more in breach than observance, especially in rural areas where workers of different political parties were seen helping voters to reach polling booths on rickshaws, cars and jeeps.

As per the rules by the election commission vehicles are not allowed within 100-metre distance of the polling booths.  But this was not possible in some places where the main road is close to the polling booths.  Hence, certain relaxation was allowed in these areas.

However, many have missed the opportunity to vote this time around since voters are not recognised on the basis of ration cards. As a result, many voters went back blaming the authorities. 

Many interesting scenes were also observed in the polling booths in the early morning. A physically-challenged person at Bajal who came to vote, speaking to Daijiworld said “The government has not given me any facilities even though I am physically challenged.  But this will not prevent me from casting my right.”

An elderly woman aged 92 years came in the early hours to exercise her franchise in the Adamkudru polling booth, putting to shame many young men and women who were not so bothered about exercising their right.

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 10-00 am
Update 1

Mangalore: Ullal By-poll - Will Weather Play the Spoilsport ?

Although there was heavy overcast around the city and with Met dept having forecast the onset of monsoons any time, there were fears that the weather would spoil the party for the political parties grappling for this prestigious seat.

Any downpour is likely to dampen the voters' spirits and hamper the voting percentage, as many would prefer to stay indoors in case of rains. Although the clouds have cleared, there is still an element of suspense and uncertainty about the weather.

There is widespread appreciation for the security deployed, in view of Ullal being a communally sensitive area for decades.

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 9-15 am
First report

Mangalore: Polling for Ullal By-election Commences amidst Tight Security

Spot report from Gladson D’Almeida
Pics  Sphoorti Ullal and Rajesh Shetty

Mangalore, June 2: Finally the day has arrived.  The Ullal by-election which has gained utmost importance in the state politics for a number of reasons has begun. 

Polling began on a sedate note on Saturday June 2 at 7-00 am.  People were seen queuing up to exercise their franchise in the early hours.  Since it is not a public holiday, those who have to go to work either to city or to some other places, made their way to their polling station to cast their votes.  Even a few students, who might first-time voters, were found at the polling booth in the morning.

A few welcome showers kept the voters indoors on Saturday morning.  Now that clouds have disappeared and clean sky has emerged, voting is expected to gain momentum. 

Heavy security has been in place near every polling booth.  Each booth has been provided with armed police personnel along with the usual security.  On the whole,  security has been beefed up in the entire constituency and police have taken utmost care to ensure peaceful and fair polling.

The administration led by deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao has not taken anything for granted.  Everything has been meticulously planned as the entire state is curiously watching the happenings of Ullal with bated breath.

Five candidates who are in the fray were among the first ones to cast their votes in their respective areas.  While Congress candidate U T Khader exercised his vote at Boliyar, JD (S) candidate came to Natekal polling station to cast his franchise.  Chandrashekhar Uchil of BJP cast his vote at Uchil and Balakrishna Shetty of CPI (M) voted at Bajal.

There are 161070 voters out of which 80,000 are male whereas 81,070 are female.  There are 140 polling booths among which 56 are hyper-sensitive and 70 are sensitive and the rest 14 are common.

More updates will follow at regular intervals.