Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 13: In the bypoll held for two wards of Ullal municipality on Sunday February 12, Chembugudde ward registered polling percentage of 58. In contrast, brisk polling was noticed in Kallapu ward, there 72.9 percent voters exercised their franchise. A turnout of 65.2 percent was recorded in all.

Both these wards witnessed peaceful polling. Women voters came out in large numbers to vote in both these wards. 58 percent polling was witnessed in Babbukatte school in Chembugudde ward, where 884 out of 1,520 voters cast their votes. Out of 728 male voters, 339 came to vote, whereas 485 out of 792 women voters voted for the candidate of their choice. Congress candidate in this constituency is sitting councillor, Basil D'Souza, who faces Satish Chembugudde of BJP and Harish Shetty of CPM. An independent candidate, Kalandar, is also in the fray.

In Kallapu Patla school under Babbukatte ward, 72.9 percent polling was witnessed. This ward has 1,378 voters split between 688 male and 690 female voters. 548 out of 690 women exercised their right to vote, whereas only 457 out of 688 male voters cast their votes. The polling booth at Kallapu school was provided with tight police security. In this ward, Usman Kallapu of Congress party, Chandrahas Pandit House from BJP, Ismail Shaffi of JD(S) and independent candidate, Dinakar Ullal, are testing their fortunes.

In both these constituencies, women voters outnumber their male counterparts. Women also outperformed the male voters in exercising of franchise on Sunday. Counting of votes will be taken up at Mini Vidhan Soudha here on February 15.