Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 1: The polling for the zilla and taluk panchayat elections in the twin districts went off peacefully on Friday December 31. Dakshina Kannada recorded 66.69% polling. In Mangalore taluk, 90,390 women as against 81,517 men, cast their votes.

Sullia taluk recorded 73.92% polling, which is the highest in the district. Beltangady, where people of a few villages like Eleneeru, Gutyadka, Bangarupalke and Badamane boycotted polling in protest against the apathy of people’s representatives to provide them basic amenities, registered only 62.99% polling. The voting percentages in other taluks of Dakshina Kannada district were Mangalore (65.22), Bantwal (70.48) and Puttur (69.36).

In Udupi taluk, 63.50% voters exercised their franchise. Karkala recorded 70% polling, while Kundapur registered a percentage of 65%. Udupi district as a whole, registered polling percentage of 66.16%.

Perhaps for the first time, the elections in the coastal districts went off without any major scuffle between activists belonging to different political parties.