Mangalore: City records 63.33 percent voting, senior citizens turn up in large numbers
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NM)
Update: 8 pm
Mangalore, Mar 7: The 60 wards under Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) recorded an overall turnout of 63.33 percent, out of which Kannur had the highest turnout of 75.29 percent and Bendore the least with 47.39 percent.
In the city, 2,07,070 out of 3,22,293 total voters cast their votes, among which were 99,570 were male and 1,07,500 female.
Ullal saw a turnout of 70.08 percent (13,918 women and 12,723 men), Moodbidri 73.84 percent (7,444 women and 6,602 men), Bantwal 76.09 percent (10,999 women and 10,505 men), Puttur 71.23 percent (12,433 women and 12,056 men), Beltangady 75.49 percent (2,216 women and 1,943 men) and Sullia 80.01 percent (4,806 women and 4,912 men).
Overall, the district recorded a turnout of 66.24 percent (1,59,266 female voters and 1,48,311 male).
A surprising number of senior citizens turned up to cast their votes in each of the wards election to the Mangalore City Corporation here on Thursday March 7.
91-year-old Christina Rodrigues along with her son and daughter-in-law voted in booth number 200 of Kodialbail ward.
90-year-old Gopal Krishna Shetty with the help of his son cast his vote in a booth located at Teacher’s Training Centre, Jail road.
Speaking to the media after voting, Shetty said, “Every citizen should vote for the development of the country."
The DC thanked all the people for co-operating with the authorities in conducting peaceful polls.
Though the voting was largely peaceful, trouble was reported at Bunder when Congress members brought a bus full of youngsters to vote. It is said that while the names of the young voters were in Congress list, they were not found in the lists of BJP and JD(S).
Both JD(S) and BJP members objected to the youngsters voting, leading to heated arguments between the various political groups. The police had to resort to mild lathi charge to bring the situation under control.
Earlier Updates
Mangalore: Chaos and confusion mark local body elections
Update: 12.15 pm
By noon, the 60 wards in MCC recorded an overall turnout of 35 percent.
Update: 11 am
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Mar 7: Chaos erupted at Shivbagh ward when police led by ACP Kavitha objected to political parties setting up their kiosks too close to the voting centre at St Agnes College.
The kiosks were razed down from the spot and shifted 200 metres away. As there is no footpath at the new spot, one of kiosks had to be put up on the roadside.
The political parties are required to set up their kiosks about 200 metres away from the polling booths. At St Agnes College, the kiosks were set up near the gate, though at the required distance from the polling booth.
A member of one of the political parties told daijiworld that a distance of 200 metres was too far and hence they should be allowed to set up the kiosks near the gate.
ACP Kavitha said that the police were there to provide security and that it is up to the election observer to take further action.
All political parties came together to raise objections and demanded that they be allowed to keep the kiosks near the college gate.
Speaking to Daijiwold, sector officer H G Latha said that she spoke to election officer A K Monappa, and it was decided to let political parties set up their kiosks 30 metres away from the gate, so as to avoid chaos and crowding near the gate.
Meanwhile, Padavu (west) ward, the names of some of the newly-listed voters were not found in the voting list. A girl who came to vote for the first time had to return home dejected. However, the new list was found later and the voters were asked to return and cast their vote.
Update: 9.45 am
Mangalore: Local body elections - Voting begins
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje / Kishore Peraje / Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
After days of campaigning by the election candidates, it is now time for voters to come into action and decide who they should favour the most.
The voting for the seven urban local bodies began at 7 am on Thursday March 7.
In all, there are 677 candidates in the fray in the district in Mangalore city corporation, Moodbidri, Ullal, Bantwal, Puttur, Belthangady and Sullia town panchayat.
To avoid rush, some people especially the senior citizens and office-goers were seen queing up at their respective booths. In Bantwal, Congress leader Janardhan Poojary was spotted standing in the queue for his turn to vote.
Holiday has been declared for government offices, educational institutions and banks, but private establishments are open.
Though the voting began on a slow note, the turnout is expected to get better as the day progresses.
The voting will end at 5 pm.
By 9.30 am, Bajal recorded a voter turnout of 300, while in Alape, as many as 700 voters flocked to the booths. In Jeppinamogeru, 918 voters registered their voters.
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