Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 28: In an interesting development, two ministers from Dakshina Kannada district, who were expected to lead from the front in the council election because of their experience and exposure, were found to be struggling to find the polling booths where they were supposed to vote.

Minister for forests, environment, and ecology, B Ramanath Rai, spent time in finding out his polling booth. He had sent a letter sufficiently in advance to the office of the deputy commissioner seeking provision to vote at Bantwal taluk panchayat office. But when he came there, he was told by the officials that he had to cast his vote at Kallige gram panchayat office. But by the time he reached Kallige, Bantwal taluk panchayat officials received communication from the office of the deputy commissioner to allow Rai to vote at Bantwal taluk office. Rai had to come back from Kallige and exercise his franchise at Bantwal taluk panchayat office.

Similarly, U T Khader reached the taluk panchayat office in the city on Sunday morning for polling. He was told by officials that he needed to go to Ullal to cast his vote. Khader then went to Ullal and voted at the polling booth located at the municipal office there.