Out of 15 contestants in DK and 12 contestants in Udupi-Chikmagalur constituencies (including NOTA option), 7,109 persons have opted for NOTA in DK while 7,821 persons have opted for NOTA in Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency.
Interestingly, NOTA has managed to bag fifth place in DK as well as Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency.
In DK, the highest number of NOTA votes were polled in Sullia constituency with 1,048 votes followed by Belthangady—1,040, Puttur—910, Bantwal—888, Moodbidri—882, Mangalore South—845, Mangalore North—836, and Mangalore—658.
In fact, the number of votes secured by the NOTA was highest than that of independent candidates and AAP candidate M R Vasudeva in the constituency.
NOTA campaign
It may be recalled that with the former union minister Veerappa Moily laying foundation for the proposed Yettinahole project on March 3, the Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya had launched a campaign asking citizens of Dakshina Kannda to use NOTA vote to register their opposition against Yettinahole project, aimed at diverting excess water from the tributaries of Nethravati.
The Sanchaya had accused both the Congress and the BJP of neglecting Yetthinahole issue during the campaigns.
While Veerappa Moily and D V Sadananda Gowda were hell bent on implementing the project, candidates from the Dakshina Kannada constituency B Janardhan Poojary and Nalin Kumar Kateel opposed the project tooth and nail. In fact, Sanchaya had distributed handbills seeking voters to use NOTA to mark their anger across the district.
The handbills had highlighted the significance of river Netravathi. Even Kisan Sene members had supported NOTA vote in protest against the government for not supporting them when they incurred huge losses due to crop loss, fall in price, natural disasters, crop diseases and other issues in the district.
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