From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
BANGALORE, Aug 13: With the by-elections for the five assembly constituencies in Karnataka on August 18 coming within months of the May lok sabha polls as also elections to teachers’ bodies and advocates association of Bangalore recently, Election Commission has ordered that the indelible ink mark be applied on the right hand index finger of the voters.
"This was necessary to avoid any confusion in the minds of the voters as the indelible ink mark on the index finger or other fingers of left hand still remained in some cases,’’ Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer C S Suranjana said.
The Election Commission’s orders will be applicable in the bye-elections to the Govindarajanagar assembly constituency in the city, Ramanagara and Channapatna of Ramanagara district, Kollegal and Chittapur in Chamarajanagar and Gulbarga districts respectively, Suranjana said.
Addressing a news conference, he said a total of 1,112 polling stations would be established in five constituencies. A total of 217 booths would be set up in Govindarajanagara, 197 in Kollegal, 251 in Ramanagara, 201 in Chittapur and 246 in Channapatna.
About 7500 polling personnel and 382 micro observers would be deployed to ensure peaceful elections. Five companies of Tamil Nadu State Reserve Police would be deployed in five constituencies, he said.
The police have already registered 104 criminal cases in five constituencies and seized liquor, cash and goods worth Rs 17.36 lakh so far.
The ruling BJP, according to Suranjana, was guilty of violating the model code of conduct in 12 cases followed Congress in 11, JD (S) in 5, BSP in 2 and others in 13 cases.
Constituency-wise break-up of the number of cases of model poll code violations is: Ramanagara (13), Govindarajanagara (12), Chittapur (11), Channapatna (5) and Kollegal ( 2), he said.
Suranjana said all government offices, companies and business establishments in the respective constituencies have been directed to declare a holiday on the polling day to enable the voters to exercise their franchise under the Negotiable Instrument Act and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Those voters, who do not have Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), can cast their votes by producing alternative documents such as passports, driving licences, identity PAN cards, bank passbooks, ration cards etc, he added.