Mangalore: Ullal By-poll Update 2: Polling Gains Momentum

by Melka Miyar from the spot
Pics Rajesh Shetty

Saturday, 10-30 am IST

News Flash: A person distributing money to voters as incentive was arrested by the police at Manjanady and a cash amount of Rs 65,000 and a jeep were seized on Saturday morning during the polling. Further details are awaited

Now it is the voters’ time. Voters have started sealing the fate of the candidates in the ballot boxes. 

Now that the polling is in progress is little that the political parties can do officially.  No more campaigning, no more coaxing and pleading.  Of course there will be few trick played by these parties at the eleventh hours such as distributing money, gifts etc. 

But both election commission and district administration is alert and any violation in this regard would spell doom for these parties.  In view of the high stakes involved and significance attached to this by-election, almost the entire police hierarchy and district administrative machinery is found in Ullal, trying their best to ensure that everything goes on smoothly till the end.

As reported earlier, though the polling began on a sedate note in the early hours, it has now gained momentum.  The clean sky and bright sun have brought a broad smile the faces of candidates and leaders of political parties.  Owing to a few light showers in the morning, candidates and party leaders were in tension about voters not turning out to exercise their franchise. 

Heavy rush was found at almost every polling booth as the day progressed.  It is evident that voters are keen on casting their votes without fail.

Meanwhile police have left no stone unturned to ensure fair polling and maintain law and order.  At Talapady, paramilitary forces have been deployed to check the vehicles coming from Kerala to prevent those with intentions of proxy polling.

The election commission has put restrictions on political parties on transportation of  voters by vehicles.  But there was seen more in breach than observance, especially in rural areas where workers of different political parties were seen helping voters to reach polling booths on rickshaws, cars and jeeps.

As per the rules by the election commission vehicles are not allowed within 100-metre distance of the polling booths.  But this was not possible in some places where the main road is close to the polling booths.  Hence, certain relaxation was allowed in these areas.

However, many have missed the opportunity to vote this time around since voters are not recognised on the basis of ration cards. As a result, many voters went back blaming the authorities. 

Many interesting scenes were also observed in the polling booths in the early morning. A physically-challenged person at Bajal who came to vote, speaking to Daijiworld said “The government has not given me any facilities even though I am physically challenged.  But this will not prevent me from casting my right.”

An elderly woman aged 92 years came in the early hours to exercise her franchise in the Adamkudru polling booth, putting to shame many young men and women who were not so bothered about exercising their right.

Mangalore: Ullal By-poll - Will Weather Play the Spoilsport ?

Update : 10-00 am IST

Although there was heavy overcast around the city and with Met dept having forecast the onset of monsoons any time, there were fears that the weather would spoil the party for the political parties grappling for this prestigious seat.

Any downpour is likely to dampen the voters' spirits and hamper the voting percentage, as many would prefer to stay indoors in case of rains. Although the clouds have cleared, there is still an element of suspense and uncertainty about the weather.

There is widespread appreciation for the security deployed, in view of Ullal being a communally sensitive area for decades.

Mangalore: Polling for Ullal By-election Commences amidst Tight Security

Spot report from Gladson D’Almeida
Pics  Sphoorti Ullal and Rajesh Shetty

Saturday, 9-15 am IST

Mangalore, June 2: Finally the day has arrived.  The Ullal by-election which has gained utmost importance in the state politics for a number of reasons has begun. 

Polling began on a sedate note on Saturday June 2 at 7-00 am.  People were seen queuing up to exercise their franchise in the early hours.  Since it is not a public holiday, those who have to go to work either to city or to some other places, made their way to their polling station to cast their votes.  Even a few students, who might first-time voters, were found at the polling booth in the morning.

A few welcome showers kept the voters indoors on Saturday morning.  Now that clouds have disappeared and clean sky has emerged, voting is expected to gain momentum. 

Heavy security has been in place near every polling booth.  Each booth has been provided with armed police personnel along with the usual security.  On the whole,  security has been beefed up in the entire constituency and police have taken utmost care to ensure peaceful and fair polling.

The administration led by deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao has not taken anything for granted.  Everything has been meticulously planned as the entire state is curiously watching the happenings of Ullal with bated breath.

Five candidates who are in the fray were among the first ones to cast their votes in their respective areas.  While Congress candidate U T Khader exercised his vote at Boliyar, JD (S) candidate came to Natekal polling station to cast his franchise.  Chandrashekhar Uchil of BJP cast his vote at Uchil and Balakrishna Shetty of CPI (M) voted at Bajal.

There are 161070 voters out of which 80,000 are male whereas 81,070 are female.  There are 140 polling booths among which 56 are hyper-sensitive and 70 are sensitive and the rest 14 are common.

More updates will follow at regular intervals.