Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RS/RD)
Mangalore, Apr 14: In order to provide an opportunity for the blind to cast their votes; the Election Commission (EC) has planned to add a strip in Braille to every Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), said Dakshina Kannada (DK) Deputy Commissioner (DC) V Ponnuraj.
Addressing the media persons, during the press conference at his office here, on Monday April 13, PonnuraJ said that the Braille strip will have - 16 numbers while each serial number is being allotted to every candidate, to enable the blind to vote in secrecy.
The staff on election duty is provided with training . Efforts will be made to train all election staff, in order to get familiar with all the electoral procedures , Ponnuraj informed.
As the election campaign is picking up momentum, 3 teams were already formed to monitor the violation of code of conduct during the campaign. Two teams will discharge their duties during the day and one team during the night, he added.
Electioneering observers will handle any discrepancy of voters, in case of impersonation by allowing to tender vote that will not be counted. Instead it would be accounted as tender vote, he clarified.
DC Ponnuraj informed that there are 11 candidates from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency . Three out of 14 nominations are rejected. He said
Janardhana Poojary (Congress), Nalin Kumar Kateel (BJP), B Madhava (CPI (M), Girish Rai (BSP) and Independent candidates Ananda Gatty (Gas cylinder symbol) Dr Thirumala Raya Halemane (Basket) Mohammad Salih (coconut) K Rama Bhat(ring) Vasudeva Gowda M P (Television), Dr U P Shivananda (torchlight), Kumar Kuntikana (black board) are in electoral fray.
Security
SP Dr Subrahmanyeswar Rao, explaining security arrangements for poll duty, said that DK has 1518 polling centers that are subjected to keen observation. Eight DySPs, 36 inspectors, 155 sub inspectors and assistant sub inspectors, 490 head constables, 1980 constables and 659 home guards and 16 companies of District Armed Reserve (DAR) and 17 companies of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) will be required for security purpose. A proposal in this regard has been sent to the department, Dr Rao said.
Meanwhile, one more proposal has been forwarded to department, seeking additional requirement of 20 companies of Central Force, especially to assist the district police at the Naxal sensitive 22 polling booths in Beltangady, he added.
Election observers T R Meena, K Balamurugan, S H Dange were also present at the press conference.