From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 21: Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar on Sunday denied that there has been “mass indiscriminate deletion of names’’ from the voters list in the State’s 14 Lok Sabha constituencies that went to polls in the first phase on April 18.

The State BJP unit had on Thursday written to the Election Commission over alleged "mass indiscriminate deletion" of names from the voters list.

Speaking to presspersons here, Kumar said it was wrong to say that "mass indiscriminate deletion" of names from the voters list in the State.

The City constituencies recorded low turn-out compared to constituencies in rest of the state.

Kumar said political parties had electoral rolls on January 16 while candidates contesting election had electoral roll prepared in March, he said.

Shift in houses/residences was one of reasons for not having names in electoral roll, he said.

Public holiday will be declared on Tuesday to enable voters to exercise their franchise for 14 lok sabha seats going to polls in the second phase on April 23.

Campaining ends

A month-long campaign in 14 Lok Sabha seats in north Karnataka ended on Sunday.

Voting will be held in these constituencies on Tuesday with the main battle between the ruling Congress-JD(S) combine and the BJP.

Constituencies that go to polls on Tuesday are - Chikkodi, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Ballari, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttar Kannada, Davanagere, and Shivamogga.

A total of 2.43 crore voters are eligible to exercise their votes.

Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said 311 candidates are in the fray. While the number of male candidates is 297, the female candidate number is 14.

While the BJP is contesting in all 14 constituencies, the Congress has fielded candidates in 11 constituencies and JD (S) in 3.

There are 5,41,244 first times voters (in the age group of 18-19) in these 14 constituencies, of which 3,05,404 are male, 2,35,759 are female and five belonging to other category of voters.

He said the number of persons with disability (PWD) voters is 2,38,839 in 14 seats. A total of 28022 polling stations have been established to ensure smooth voting. There are 609 Saki polling booths, 39 Ethnic and 98 PWD.

Total number of critical polling booths in the second phase are 5605, the CEO said.

Seizures

A whopping Rs 79.26 crore cash, liquor and drugs and metals have been seized from 14 constituencies.

Total number of cases booked for violation of model code of conduct in the second phase constituencies is 127.