JOIN USSpeaking with the mediapersons here, DC Hemalatha informed that the polls will be held for 25 ZP and 95 TP constituencies across the district. Udupi TP has 41 seats, Kundapur TP has 35 and Karkala TP has 19 seats. The last date to submit nominations will be on December 20 and December 23 will be last date to withdraw the nominations. The polls will be held on December 31 and if need arises re-polling will be held on January 3, she added.
The model code of conduct will be in force from the date of announcement of polls and will continue until the entire process gets over on January 5. As many as 321 sensitive and 188 hyper-sensitive areas have been identified. There are 6,77,858 voters in the district.
Following the mandatory 50 per cent reservation norms for women in total number of seats, 13 seats will be reserved for women in ZP polls. In TP polls, as many as 49 seats will be reserved for women across the district. In Udupi, as many as 21 women candidates, 10 in Karkala and 18 in Kundapur will contest the polls, she added.
One Returning Officer will be employed in each of the three taluks for ZP polls. For TP elections, four ROs in Udupi, three ROs in Kundapur and two in Karkala will be appointed besides 24 AROs for all the three taluks. Electronic Voting Machines will be used for polling. There are as many as 721 polling stations in the district with 298 in Udupi, 145 in Karkala and 278 in Kundapur. A total of 1,588 EVMs will be used for the purpose, Hemalatha added.
SP Pravin Pawar informed measures have been taken for the security arrangements during the polls. However, the department is yet to procure the approval from higher authorities for the request of the police force.
Demand has been put forth for about seven DySP rank officials, 13 Inspectors, 99 PSIs, 390 CHCs and HCs, 132 CPCs, 48 armed HCs, 308 armed PCs and 600 home guards. As many as 22 check posts will be set up and 94 mobile vans will be deployed for the purpose, he said.