Bangaloreans show their apathy once again Bangalore Bureau City records 44 p.c. polling, Bangalore Rural 72.5 Thirty people arrested

Bangaloreans show their apathy once again

Bangalore Bureau

City records 44 p.c. polling, Bangalore Rural 72.5




Thirty people arrested for trying to cast

bogus votes

Many names were missing in voters’ list


— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Strong presence: Police personnel from outside the State keeping vigil at a polling booth in Bangalore on Saturday.


BANGALORE: Voter apathy in the 28 constituencies of Bangalore city marked the first phase of Assembly elections held in 89 constituencies of the State on Saturday.

The voting percentage was a poor 44 compared to Bangalore Rural that recorded 72.5 per cent.

State Chief Electoral Officer M.N. Vidyashankar said, “The turnout in Bangalore City has been historically low compared to other parts of the State. In a way, history has repeated.”

Reporters from The Hindu who visited many city constituencies found a relatively poor turnout of the well-heeled. In contrast, the less privileged sections were seen patiently waiting in long queues.

The Election Commission has served notices on the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for trying to enter a polling booth in Ramanagaram along with a large group of supporters despite warning by the police.

A notice has also been served on Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Minister for Power, for promising a mega power project for the State at a press conference here on Saturday.

On large number of names reported missing in the voters’ list in almost all the constituencies, Mr. Vidyashankar said both the voters and the Election Commission were to be blamed.

“It is a dual responsibility. We had advertised for three months asking voters to ensure that their names are in the electoral rolls. Despite this, a large number of eligible voters did not enrol their names,” he said. As many as 53 electronic voting machines (EVMs) developed snags and polling was disrupted for a few hours in various booths. The highest number (19) of defective EVMs was reported in Tumkur district, and all the faulty machines were quickly replaced. Polling was not extended beyond the stipulated time in any of the booths.

Thirty people who attempted to cast bogus votes in Hebbal constituency in Bangalore city were arrested.

A State Government employee Kumaraswamy, who acted as a polling agent of the Congress in Srinivaspura constituency in Kolar district, had been arrested, Mr. Vidyashankar said.
Peaceful


Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Shankar M. Bidari said that barring minor incidents, the polling passed off peacefully in all the 89 constituencies.

Mr. Bidari said that stray incidents were reported in Hoskote in Bangalore Rural district, Arsikere in Hassan district and Varuna constituency in Mysore district. Congress leader and the former Minister Chikke Gowda was injured when his car was attacked allegedly by BJP workers in Hoskote. The police seized cash of Rs. 15 lakh from two cars in Badami constituency in Bagalkot district on Saturday. During the last 24 hours, 39 criminal cases were registered against party leaders and workers for violating the model code of conduct. Besides cash of Rs. 8 lakh, saris and liquor had been seized in Bangalore City last night, Mr. Vidyashankar said.

Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswamy and Election Commissioners S. Y Quraishi and Navin Chawla will be on a two-day visit to the State from May 13 for reviewing preparations in the eight districts going to the polls in the third phase of elections on May 22.

The full Bench of the Commission would hold a meeting in Dharwad and review poll preparations along with Regional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and top police officials, Mr. Vidyashankar said.