ZP/TP polls: Dakshina Kannada records 69% voter turnout; Sullia highest

Mangaluru, Feb 20: The election to the 36 Zilla Panchayat constituencies and the 136 Taluk Panchayat constituencies in the district on Saturday was peaceful, barring a few minor incidents.

The district administration had set up 1,166 polling booths in the district. Technical glitches in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) delayed the commencement of polling process at some of the booths.

The district has recorded 69 per cent polling. The district had recorded 15.08 per cent polling at 9 am, 29.78 per cent at 11 am, 44.38 per cent at 1 pm and 55.98 at 3 pm.

Although a large number of voters in Mangaluru, Bantwal, Sullia and Puttur taluks exercised their franchise in the morning, Belthangady managed to register barely 7.22 per cent at the end of two hours of commencement of polling.

Sullia taluk recorded the highest voter turnout, with 74.15 per cent polling, followed by Puttur, with 71.40 per cent, Bantwal 69.48 per cent, Mangaluru 65.58 per cent and Belthangady with 64.82 per cent voting.

Ministers cast vote

District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai cast his vote at Todambila Church School in Bantwal, while ex-MLA Padmanabha Kottary – who is contesting from Sajipamunnuru constituency as the BJP candidate – cast his vote at Goltamajalu.

The minister told reporters that the Congress would register victory in the elections. “All the legislators in the districts are working for development. The voters will recognise their work while exercising franchise. Out of fear, the BJP has been engaging in making irresponsible statements. The Congress is confident of winning both, the zilla and taluk panchayat elections with a majority,” said Rai.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader and his wife exercised their franchise at Ranthadka in Boliyar. After casting vote, Khader said that the voters are aware of the development work initiated by the Congress-led State government. “The Congress has fielded good candidates for the constituencies in the district,” he added.

Technical glitch

An official at the Kanakamajalu polling booth in Sullia applied the indelible ink on the left thumb of a voter. Realising his mistake, the officer applied it on the right thumb.

Following technical glitches in the EVMs at Bellare, Narnakaje, Kollamogra, and Narkoda in Sullia taluk, the polling commenced one hour late. The problems in the EVMs delayed the commencement of polling at Nadugodu in Kinnigoli, Panja in Kinnigoli, as well as Hantyaru, Ishwaramangala, Bannur and Patte polling stations in Puttur taluk.

At Hantyaru, the problem in the EVM arose after three persons exercised their franchise. Though an additional EVM was brought to the booth, owing to lack of ballot paper to identify the ZP and TP constituency, the process was delayed.

A 98-year-old Kamala Shedthi from Ullanje in Kinnigoli exercised her franchise at Marywell School in Kinnigoli. An 108-year-old Joseph Menezes exercised his franchise at Balkunje. The 90-year-old Ajja Chandraiah Madiwala and Julekha cast their vote at Haleyangadi.

Verbal duel

A war of words broke out between the members of the Congress and the BJP at Mani Government School. When a member of a political party was seen taking an aged person for polling at 5 pm, the opposition party members objected to it. The scuffle ended with the intervention of the police.

Though the residents of Anilakattekadambu in Vittlapadnoor had announced that they will boycott the election demanding road, the residents have exercised their franchise.