Newskarnataka – Bantwal
Bantwal : Bantwal Assembly segment in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency registered a good voter turn-out in the elections held on Thursday, April 17. Elections were held on a completely peaceful note in the constituency which had registered 45 per cent polling by afternoon.
People were seen enthusiastically heading towards the polling booths to exercise their franchise. Even young voters and first timers cast their votes in various polling booths.
Dignitaries vote : Among the dignitaries, DK Congress candidate B Janardhana Poojari exercised his franchise at the SVS Higher Primary School in his home town Bantwal. DK District in-charge Minister Ramanatha Rai cast his vote at Sacred Heart Higher Primary School at Todambila in Kallige village, while KPCC Secretary Ashwani Kumar Rai polled at DK ZP Higher Primary School at B Mooda village.
Haneef Khan Kodaje, the JD(S),SDPI alliance candidate exercised franchise at Neralakatte Government School, while former MLA Rukmaya Poojari voted at the Goltamajalu Panchayat office and BJP leader Rukmaya Poojari at Baltila Panchayat office polling booth.
Senior RSS leader Kalladka Prabhaker Bhat voted at the Kalladka Model Higher Primary School polling station.
Seers exercise franchise : Odiyoor seer Sri Gurudevadutta Swamiji voted at the Mittanadka ZP School while Mohandas Paramahamsa Swamiji of Manila Sridhama exercised franchise at Manila Muruva Government School. Sri Mahabala Swamiji of Kaniyoor Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra voted at Kanyana ZP school.
Defective EVMs : Electronic Voting Machines used in as many as five polling stations in the taluk developed technical snag and had to be replaced. The EVMs were replaced in Chennaithodi, Moodupadukodi, Narikombu, Neralakatte and Kodangai polling stations.
Due to the problem, voting was delayed by an hour in Kodangai polling station.
There are a total of 2.01,433 voters in Bantwal.
High security was maintained in various places of the constituency particularly in the wake of recent clashes at Kalladka. As many as 6 CC cameras were installed in polling stations in Kalladka town considered a sensitive area.
Poojari speaks : Speaking to reporters after casting vote, Congress candidate Janardhana Poojary expressed happiness over enthusiastic participation of voters in the elections. “BJP and RSS are active in resorting to irregularities, I had information about irregularities on the night previous to the elections. There should have been stricter night vigil,” he said.
