Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Dec 27: The polling for the by-election slated for today in Maddur, Turuvekere, Madhugiri, Doddaballapur, Karwar, Devadurg, Arabhavi and Hukkeri assembly constituencies in the state, is being held today. The by-poll has kindled lot of interest because of the intricacies involved and also as its outcome has the potential to influence the survival of the BJP-led state government. Many believe that the people will pass their verdict on the justifiability of the BJP’s 'Operation Kamala' by casting their votes for the candidate of their choice.
Counting of votes will take place on Tuesday December 30. As electronic voting machines are being used, most or all of the results are expected to be announced by the afternoon that day.
A hot contest is on between the three main parties of the state, the Congress, the JD(S) and the BJP, all of which have taken it as a challenge for ensuring the victory of their respective candidates. State and national level bigwigs of these parties actively took part in the electioneering. While Madhugiri has been identified as super sensitive constituency, all the other seven constituencies have been grouped by the Election Commission as sensitive.
The voters are faced with the task of picking eight candidates from out of 73 in the fray. A total of 1,613 polling stations have been set up. 13, 69,837 voters have been given an opportunity to caste their votes. 7,400 officials have been entrusted with the poll-related duties apart from 9,500 policemen and home guards. Arrangements have been made to video graph the activities in every polling station. Observers and micro-observers have also been pressed into service to avoid irregularities.
On Friday December 26, the officials arrested three persons who were distributing cash to the voters in Kattiganahalli in Madhugiri constituency and recovered Rs 2, 54,970 from them. They are said to be the supporters of the BJP. The Qualis vehicle in which they were travelling was also confiscated. Incidents of stole pelting were also reported from Hukkeri and Karwar constituencies.