Moodbidri, Mulki: Peaceful voting

Team Udayavani, May 30, 2019, 4:30 PM IST

Moodbidri: The voting process for the administration of Moodbidri municipality and Mulki town panchayat occurred peacefully on Wednesday May 29^th.

The EVM at the 9^th polling booth at DJ school in Jain Pete ward of Moodbidri malfunctioned during trial run itself and hence the voting process started with a delay of 15-20 minutes. Hence, former minister K Abhayachandra Jain, Bhattaraka Swami and the candidates contesting in the ward had to wait for some time to cast their votes. Finally, the EVM was repaired and the voting process started. A cloudy weather persisted since the morning and the voting too reduced for some time.

Roslin, who is suffering from severe leg pain arrived in an auto rickshaw in the afternoon to the polling booth at Rosario High School for the Range Forest Office Zone Ward 13 had to wait for quite some time since the polling booth lacked wheel chair facility.

When those who accompanied the lady asked the officials of the polling booth regarding the lack of  the facility, they replied, “there is wheel chair everywhere, but  it has not come here, we will procure it,”

Later, after numerous calls to various places a wheel chair with the sticker ‘PHC Shirtadi; reached the polling booth. Until then, the woman remained in the rickshaw , still paying the charges. The voting process which occurred at a good pace in the morning reduced a little during the afternoon, but by evening it again gathered pace.

There is information that some urban areas registered 50-60% of voting.

Since the summer heat was harsh most of the voters, particularly the women and elderly were compelled to arrive to the polling booth in auto rickshaws. At most places, the booths of the contesting candidates were very close to each other.

Verbal exchange

A verbal exchange occurred between SDPI and CPI (M) at the polling booth at Jain Pre University College which soon lost its heat.

There were many instances wherein the police sent back those coming in their vehicles at the polling booth by crossing the white line placed there.

Heavy security

The voting was conducted under the secure guard of 50 police personnel under the leadership of PSI Savitri, a contingent of reserved para-military force, DAR police and 20 hone guards. The votes will be counted on May 31^st at Sri Mahaveera College.

One school, 7 polling booths

Mulki: The voting for the administration of the city panchayat here was conducted across 18 wards from 7am in the morning to 5pm in the evening on Wednesday. Later, the EVM where safely transferred to the strong room created at the community hall here.

If there are 18 positions for members to get elected from Bappanadu, Chitrapu, Manampady and Karnad village limits within Mulki town panchayat limits, 7 polling booths were set up at Karnad Sadashiva Rao Nagar School premises located at a corner in Karnadu village. The reason being the greater number of people density here.

18 polling booths at 10 locations

Polling booths were established at the board school for ward 1 and 2, Vijaya College for ward 3, Manampady school for ward 4, Medalin school for ward 5, Narayana Guru English Medium School for ward 6 and Kolachikambla Aanganwadi centre for ward 8.

Karnad CSI school for Mulki ward 8, Mulki government High School for ward 9 and 10, Karnad Sadashiva Rao Nagar School premises for wards form 10 to 17, Chitrapu school for ward 18 and thus 18 polling booths were set up at 10 locations.

Heavy police security

Heavy security cover was provided for the voting under the leadership of Mangaluru Traffic ACP Manjunath Shetty and in-charge of Inspector Satish G by Panambur, Surathkal police, home guards and a platoon of CAR police. No untoward incident took place on this occasion.

The voting process began simultaneously at all the 18 wards within the town panchayat limits and the entire process was conducted peacefully without any confusion, informed the tahsildar.

Tomorrow result

Most of the voting result may be out by 11 on May 31^st, informed the Chief Election Officer.