From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 1: The Election Commission, which has infused sanity in the electoral campaign and virtually eliminated harassment of voters through indiscriminate and loud electioneering, has come out with yet another novel initiative in the May 5 assembly polls in Karnataka by taking steps to monitor polling booths through live-videos.

The Election Commission will be launching the first of its kind initiative of monitoring the polling booths through live videos by having ''web-casting" in over 1,100 polling booths.

Any candidates or political agents of the candidates, intent on creating any kind of nuisance within the polling booth premises, will have to think twice as the Election Commission has taken steps to launch web-casting.

A first-time initiative in the State elections, the technique will be put to use in five to six booths in each constituency across the State in during the elections, Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told reporters on Wednesday.

All recording done though webcasting would be monitored in control rooms of each district and at control rooms of CEO’s office here.
 
"We have decided to bring 5-6 polling booths in each constituency under the 'web-cast’ monitoring process, the CEO said, adding: ''We will take appropriate steps as and when any untoward incidents are monitored."

Apart from the armed police personnel, webcasting, video camera and digital camera recording will play a crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections in all polling stations in the State.

The web-casting has been successfully adopted in the last Gujarat elections, Jha said and mentioned that the Election Commission might adopt the mode in other states in future elections.

Asked about distribution of Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), he said arrangments have been made to distribute cards through 59 BangaloreOne and 108 KarnatakaOne centres in the State.

Polling officers have been directed to allow eligible citizens to cast their votes even in the case of any spelling errors in EPICs.
 

Total Cash Seizure Crosses Rs 14 Crore
 
Authorities have seized illegal cash of Rs 20.26 lakh in Karkala checkpost in Udupi district, Rs 12 lakh in Sirsi, Rs 3 lakh in Bommanahali in Bangalore, Rs. 3.98 lakh in Hoskote and Rs 1.95 lakh in Chittoor.

With this the total cash seized crossed Rs 14 crore while authorities sized goods worth Rs 5 crore in different districts, he said.

Excise Department officials have also sized illegally transported liquor in Arakalgud in Hassan district (180 litres), Navalgund (40 boxes) and with this the total liquor sized stood at 65,463 litres worth Rs 4.56 crore, the CEO said.
 

Periyapatna Polling on May 28, Counting on May 31
 
The Election Commission has formally announced revision of the calendar of events for elections in Periyapatna constituency in Mysore district, where polling was countermanded following the death of BJP candidate Sannamoge Gowda.

Polling would be held on May 28 while counting of votes would be taken up May 31.

The last day for filing nominations is May 10 and May 14 is the last day for withdrawal. Scrutiny of nominations would take place on May 11. 

While all the other candidates, including those of political parties will remain in the fray, it is only the BJP which will have to field a fresh candidate following the death of Sannamoge Gowda.

Sitting MLA of Congress K Venkatesh and K Mahadev of JD(S) are the other main candidates in the fray in the constituency.