Voting underway in 102 ULB polls across Karnataka; bigwigs cast their vote

Agencies
August 31, 2018

Bengaluru, Aug 31: Moderate polling is underway for the election to 102 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across Karnataka, a poll official said on Friday. Polling started at 7 a.m. amid tight security, the official added.

About 40,000 security personnel have been deployed in cities and towns to maintain law and order across the state where voting will continue till 5 p.m. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in the poll.

Voting is being held in 2,529 wards spread over 29 city municipalities, 53 town municipalities and 23 town panchayats and in 135 wards of the three city corporations.

In all, 8,340 candidates, including 2,306 from the Congress, 2,203 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 1,397 from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) are in the fray for the ULBs, while 814 are contesting in the city corporations, including 135 from Congress, 130 from BJP and 129 from JD-S.

A total of 36 lakh voters are registered for exercising franchise in the ULB wards and 13.33 lakh in the three towns of Mysuru, Shivamogga and Tumakuru.

Till 9 a.m., 6.04 per cent voters in Mysuru have exercised their franchise.

In Mysuru city corporation there are 7,98,107 registered voters - women 396896, men 401113 and others 98. A total of 815 polling booths have been setup for 65 wards.

Senior Congress leader and former MLA Vasu, who cast his vote at Mahajana First Grade College in Jayalakshmipuram, while speaking to reporters supported former CM Siddaramaiah's claim of becoming CM once again.

Vasu said that Siddaramaiah's claim will not affect the JDS - Congress coalition or government.

Counting of votes will be taken up on September 3 and most of the results are expected by night or early the next day.

Though the civic election was earlier scheduled to be held in 105 ULBs, it has been postponed in three of them -- Somwarpet, Virajpet and Kushalnagar due to heavy rains and flash floods early in August in the Kodagu district, about 270km from here.

In the 2013 ULB elections held in 4,976 seats, the Congress had won 1,960 seats, while BJP and JD-S had won 905 seats each, the Independents bagged the remaining 1,206 seats.

The outcomes of these polls will not impact the stability of the government, but could change political equations since the Congress and JD(S), bowing to pressure from their cadres, decided to contest the polls independently. The party that wins the highest number of ULB seats is likely to gain momentum ahead of the 2019 polls.

Comments

Ibrahim
 - 
Friday, 31 Aug 2018

Destroy BJP completely from everywhere. Jai Congress Jai JDS

Farooq
 - 
Friday, 31 Aug 2018

Anti BJP forces are there so BJP cant win alone

Mohan
 - 
Friday, 31 Aug 2018

Hope Cong - JDS mark their victory and make combine rule as in state

Danish
 - 
Friday, 31 Aug 2018

BJP's sacking programme is underway

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News Network
January 21,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Karnataka Chief Minister's political adviser MP Renukacharya has courted controversy yet again with his remarks targeting the Muslim community at a pro-CAA rally in Karnataka on Monday.

Addressing a rally in support of the new citizenship law, the BJP lawmaker accused Muslims of collecting weapons in mosques instead of praying. "There are few traitors who sit in a masjid and write fatwas. They collect weapons inside the mosque instead of praying. Is this why you want a Masjid," Renukacharya said on Monday.

Renukacharya said he won't hesitate to use the money allotted to Muslims for Hindus. "I will resort to such politics in my taluk where the money allotted for Muslims can be used for Hindus. I will put you [Muslims] in your place and show what politics is," said Renukacharya, who is a close aide of CM BS Yediyurappa.

This is not the first time a Karnataka BJP leader has made communal remarks targeting the minority community. Earlier, BJP MLA Somashekar Reddy had made controversial remarks at a pro-citizenship law protest in Ballari when he asked those opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to think of the "consequences" if the majority community members hit the streets against them.

The MLA had said, "If you do any drama, then if 100 per cent people come, understand what will be your situation. Congress people are lying to you, believing them you are coming on streets. We are 80 per cent, you are 17 per cent, if we react, what will be your situation? Be careful," Reddy had said.

Following outrage, a case was filed against Somashekar Reddy for alleged provocative speech targeting those protesting against the amended citizenship law.

Comments

neshu mangalore
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Jan 2020

Hatred has no space in this world!!! these cheap politicians must show thier ways by the electing public .else conflicts never end .....Spread Peace..

 

God is watching!!!!

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News Network
February 6,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 6: Karnataka government has launched an aggressive awareness campaign against the novel coronavirus across the state with a special focus on its bordering areas in wake of the three confirmed cases of the deadly pathogen in neighbouring Kerala.

According to Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey, "All necessary information on the virus, its symptoms and precautions are being announced at public places like bus stops via radio from time to time."

“A video regarding the same is also being played in 500 cinema halls, advising masses to take precautions," he said.

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News Network
April 10,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 10: The Karnataka Education Board on Friday further postponed the annual examination for SSLC to May due to extension of lockdown to arrest spread of coronavirus which is spreading like wildfire in the state.

Minister for Primary and Higher Education S Suresh Kumar also announced that the PUC examination were also postponed to May.

"However, depending upon the situation we will announce the date in May and will inform the students one week earlier of the examination date to give time for preparation,"

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