Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 28: Several polling booths in the state witnessed incidents which clearly violated code of conduct for polls during the council election held for 25 seats from local bodies in the state on Sunday December 27.

MLC, Bosaraju, arrived at the polling booth in Raichur along with his personal assistant, Vishwanath Hoogar, although utilization of services of personal assistants provided by government during election has been prohibited. Even though rules said that cellphones should not be used in and around polling booths, Hoogar used his cellphone. As the media persons started capturing this action live, he went away from the scene.

It was seen that zilla panchayat officials ignored the banner announcing government programmes located in front of polling booth at Raichur. The banner was taken off after some people raised objections. Even after all the municipal councillors cast their votes in the town, they stayed in front of the polling booths. The officials failed to ask them to disperse.

Flags, symbols, publicity materials of all parties are banned around polling booths. But JDS candidate from Dharwad was seen at the polling booth at Hubli city corporation to meet his voters, although he was not listed in the voters list of the booth. He also violated poll code by wearing a cloth bearing JDS symbol around his neck.

Although MLA, G H Thippareddy was the first to cast his vote in the polling booth located at Chitradurga, he violated the condition about secret ballot. He marked his vote on the table in front of the assistant election officer with sketch pen, which was recorded by media persons. The MLA overlooked request of polling staff to ensure secret voting. Later, district deputy commissioner, M K Shreerangiah, clarified that vote of Thippareddy would be invalidated as open voting violates sections 132A of People's Representation Act and section 2(39) of conduct of election rules 1961.

Independent MLA from Kudligi constituency in Ballari district, Nagendra, also openly said he had voted for BJP. "You can draw an inference about whom I have voted, by seeing with whom I have come here. I will be joining the BJP in an appropriate forum soon. I have supported BJP in this election," he said. MLA from Ankola, Satish Seil, also revealed to reporters that he had voted for Congress.