Udupi: Voting began in 14 constituencies across Karnataka on April 18. Two hours into polling, there has been a good turnout in the Udupi district of the Udupi-Chickmagaluru Lok Sabha Constituency, amidst tight security.
Polling began at 7 AM and will go up to 6 PM in all the booths. There are 1379 ballot units, 1280 control units and 1477 VVPAT are available in the polling booths. All the EVMs and VVPAT systems have been scrutinized.
Congress-JDS alliance candidate Pramod Madhwaraj, his mother, former MP Manorama Madhwaraj, wife, daughter and sister cast their votes at Narayana Guru School in Malpe.
However, BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje could not exercise her vote in Udupi as she is enrolled in Bengaluru.
A total of twelve candidates are in the fray in Udupi-Chickmagaluru Lok Sabha Constituency including Pramod Madhwaraj, Shobha Karandlaje, Amrit Shenoy and others independents.
Meanwhile, to make sure that the model code of conduct (MCC) is being followed, 45 flying squads and 27 Static Surveillance teams have been deployed in the district. According to the MCC, there should be no canvassing within the polling stations or any public or private places within a radius of 100 meters of the polling stations. Phones, cordless phones, digital wrist watches are also not allowed within a 100-meter radius of the polling stations.
