Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi (MS/TP)
Mangaluru/Udupi, Oct 21: The by-election for the Udupi district's Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) seat, which was left vacant by MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, began in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, on Monday October 21.
Eligible voters include elected members from gram panchayats, city local bodies, MLAs, and MPs. In Dakshina Kannada, there are 3,263 members from 223 gram panchayats, 65 members from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), 64 members from two city municipalities, 74 members from three town municipalities, and 86 members from city panchayats.
Mangaluru
Udupi
MP Kota Srinivas Poojary cast his vote at the Saligrama town panchayat. Additionally, Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna and other members of the Udupi City Municipality exercised their voting rights at the Udupi City Municipality office. Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar also cast his vote in Karkala Town Municipality.
The vote process is underway in several taluks, with the participation of officials and election staff to ensure a smooth process.
The Kaup taluk has 314 voters, with 17 polling stations, 2 sensitive polling stations, 3 micro-observers. Total of 75 staff have been deployed in Kaup taluk, including 18 presiding officers, 36 polling officers, and 18 group D staff.
The Hebri taluk has a total of 122 voters, with 9 polling stations, 2 sensitive polling stations. Total of 48 staff have been deployed in Hebri taluk, including, 10 presiding officers, 20 polling officers, 9 group D staff and 9 route officers.
The Karkala taluk has 416 voters, with 28 polling stations, 4 sensitive polling stations, 2 micro-observers. Total of 117 staff have been deployed in Karkala taluk, including 29 presiding officers, 58 polling officers, and 128 group D staff.
The Byndoor taluk has a total of 259 voters, with 15 polling stations, 3 sensitive polling stations, 3 naxal-affected polling stations, 2 micro-observers. Total of 65 staff have been deployed in Byndoor taluk, including 16 presiding officers, 32 polling officers, and 15 group D staff.
Dr Vidyakumari, deputy commissioner Udupi, providing an update on the voting process, said, “Udupi district has about 158 polling stations. As per the report received from tahsildars, the election process is going smoothly. I have personally visited 4 panchayats and found the voting process to be proceeding without issues. Voting is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, and I urge all eligible voters to cast their votes before the deadline.”
The counting of votes will take place on October 24 at St Aloysius PU College. Candidates in the fray include Kishore B R (BJP), Raju Poojary (INC), Anwar Sadat S (SDPI), and Dinakara Ullala (Independent).