Rs 2.84 cr cash, 34k litres of liquor seized

The Election authorities seized currency notes worth about Rs 34 lakh and a large quantity of illicit liquor, suspected to be meant for bribing voters, in the last 24 hours. 

So far, Rs 2.84 crore of currency notes and 34,626 litres of illicit liquor have been seized in various parts of the State.

Addressing reporters, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, Anil Kumar Jha, said that household items like dosa pans and utensils, schoolbags, umbrellas and raincoats were seized at Yamakanmaradi in Belgaum. 

Around 20,000 litres of spirit, worth about Rs 21 lakh, was also seized there. Jha said that the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, has added a total of 15,85,224 new voters. Altogether the State now has 4.62 crore voters, he added.

The CEO said that a total of 559 candidates have filed their nomination papers in the State’s 28 parliamentary constituencies, polling for which is scheduled on April 17. There was a rush of candidates (225 of them) to file their papers on Wednesday, the last day to do so. 

Jha said that directions were issued to the returning officers (ROs) in many constituencies, including Bangalore South, to accept papers even after 3 pm, due to the rush. Scrutiny of nominations will be done on Thursday and March 29 is the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

Bangalore North candidate of the BJP D V Sadananda Gowda filed another set of nomination papers with minor corrections in the affidavit. The papers were submitted on Gowda’s behalf by his supporters.

The BJP and the Congress candidates have filed nomination papers in all 28 constituencies, while the JD(S) candidates have filed in 26 constituencies. The party has decided not to field any candidate in Koppal, while it has left Dakshina Kannada for SDPI. 

JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda said more changes were expected in the party’s candidates as some are likely to withdraw their nominations.