Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Dec 22: “All of you should cast your votes in the gram panchayat elections that are going to be held in Bantwal Vidhan Sabha constituency on December 22,” said Mangaluru assistant commissioner Madan Mohan. He was speaking to reporters when mustering work was in progress at Infant Jesus School here this afternoon.

“The preparations for the elections are progressing in an orderly fashion; all the necessary arrangements have been done across the voting booths. Officials should inspect the items relating to elections before going to the respective booths. The district administration has taken up preparations on the basis of directions received from the election commission. Voters can cast their votes smoothly,” he said.

Elections are being in 57 gram panchayats on December 22 as part of the first phase of elections. Mustering work was held at Infant Jesus School here on December 21. The election boxes were carried by nearly 155 vehicles to their respective polling booths.

“Elections will be held for 837 seats and 1,925 candidates are in the fray. 15 candidates are elected unopposed. 46 booths are declared as sensitive, 86 extremely sensitive and 264 booths are considered normal. Nearly 2,000 staff members will be on election duty at the rate of six members per booth. The mustering work began in the school at 9.30 am. Staff members were provided lunch at Modankap Deepika High School. The staff members have subsequently gone to the respective voting booths assigned to them.”

“Each polling booth will have a presiding officer, an assistant presiding officer, two polling persons, one D group staff and one police staff," he said.

Over 155 vehicles are arranged to covey booth staff to their respective booths. 55 among them are KSRTC buses, the remaining are jeeps, private minibuses and maxi cabs. The boxes of four polling booths and staff will be carried in each of the KSRTC buses."

Boxes of three polling booths will be carried in minibuses, two in maxi cabs and jeeps will have the box of one polling booth and election staff. As several buses are assigned from BC Road unit for election duty, buses will not run in Bantwal village limits. However buses will be arranged to run in Puttur,” said KSRTC unit manager.