News: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Dec 11: “Necessary measures will be taken to ensure smooth voting for both zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat polls in the district”, said deputy commissioner (DC) Hemalata P.
Addressing media persons at the district headquarters here on Friday December 10, she said that the elections for both zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat will be held in two stages and Udupi district comes under the second stage which is to be held on Friday December 31.
The notification to this effect will be issued on Monday December 13. The last date to submit nomination papers will be Monday December 20. The nomination papers will be scrutinized on Tuesday December 21 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers will be Thursday December 23.
Elections will be held on Friday December 31. In case of re-elections, it will be held on Monday January 3. The counting of votes will be held in respective taluk centres on Tuesday January 4. The electioneering norms will remain in force from Monday December 6 to January 5.
The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be utilized for the first time in the elections to zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat. A total of 1,588 ballot units and an equal number of control units will be used in the process. Five hundred twenty ballet units have arrived from New Delhi and 940 ballet units from Mangalore. About 540 control units have also arrived from Orissa.
There are a total of 721 voting booths in the district – 268 in Udupi taluk, 278 in Kundapur taluk, and 145 in Karkala. Udupi taluk has 113 sensitive voting booths and 76 extra sensitive voting booths. Kundapur taluk has 104 sensitive voting booths and 76 extra sensitive voting booths. Karkala taluk has 104 sensitive voting center and 36 extra sensitive voting booths. Altogether the district has 321 sensitive and 188 extra sensitive voting booths.
Udupi taluk has 1,34,550 male voters and 1,54,753 female voters – altogether 2,89,303 voters. Kundapur taluk has 1,16,854 male voters and 1,37,414 women voters – altogether 2,54,268 voters. Karkala taluk has 59,601 male voters and 70,686 women voters, altogether 1,30,287 voters. Udupi district has 3,11,005 men voters and 3,62,853 women voters, altogether 6,73,858 voters.
Zilla panchayat of Udupi district has a total of 25 posts of which 13 are reserved for women. In Udupi taluk 11, in Kundapur 9, and Karkala 5. Udupi taluk panchayat has 41 posts, of which 21 are reserved for women. Out of a total of 35 posts under Kundapur taluk panchayat, 18 are reserved for women. From a total 19 posts in Karkala taluk panchayat, 10 are reserved for women.
An electioneering officer for each taluk and two election officers for Kundapur and Udupi taluks, and one assistant election officer will be assigned for Karkala. Four election officers will be assigned for taluk panchayat elections in Udupi taluk, three in Kundapur, two in Karkala, 10 in Udupi taluk, 9 in Kundapur taluk, and five assistant election officers in Karkala. Three hundred thirty seven vehicles will be utilized for
election duty.
SP Praveen Madhukar Pawar, and district headquarter assistant Prabhakar were present at the media conference.
Strict Security for Elections: SP
“An adequate number of police personnel are assigned for the security of the taluk panchayat and zilla panchayat elections,” informed SP Madhukar Praveen Pawar.
“Seven DySPs, 13 inspectors, 99 sub inspectors and assistant sub inspectors, 290 head constables and women head constables, 132 police constables, and women constables are assigned to election duty. Forty-eight armed head constables, 308 armed policemen, and 600 home guards, will also be on election duty. Meanwhile, policemen from Andhra Pradesh will be requisitioned for election duty as was done in the last assembly polls,” said Pawar.
He added that 92 police patrol mobiles and 82 temporary security check points will be set up in the district.