JOIN USRe-polling witnesses 5.06 pc decline
The re-polling for 174th polling station at Uppinakudru which comes under 18-Byndoor assembly segment has registered 69.32 percentage of polling, a dip of 5.06 per cent compared to the polling held on April 17.
The polling was peacefull without any untoward incidents.The polling station has recorded a 74.38 per cent of polling on April 17. As many as 868 voters cast their ballot on that day.
The polling station at the government model higher primary school in Uppinakudru was converted into a model polling booth with traditional welcome garland adorning the entrance of the polling station. There were 1,167 voters (including three postal ballots and one EDC) in the polling station of which 629 are female voters.
The polling station which comes under Shimoga LS seat, recorded 15 percentage of polling at 9 am, 28.37 percentage at 10 am, 40.2 percentage at 12.30, 51.45 percentage at 2.30 and 65 percentage at 4.30.
‘Voters were informed’
Assistant Returning Officer Dr Prabhulingu said measures were taken for the conveniences of the voters. As it was a model booth, seating arrangements were made to the voters and they were offered with leisurely reading materials like newspapers and magazines. Drinking water facilities and rest rooms were also provided, he said.
Meanwhile, Kundapur Tahsildar Gayathri Nayak said attempts were made to reach out to all the voters. The voters slips were given to all except 20 slips that were not handed over due to the absence of voters concerned at their homes. Voters were provided with all necessary information over the re-polling. The aged voters were not made to stand in queue but felicitated to vote as soon they arrived at the booth, Tahsildar added.
Voters’ talk
The Congress candidate for Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, Manjunath Bhandari visited the booth and spoke to the Tahsildar over the arrangements. Manji, aged 85 from Patelarabettu said she had no grievance to cast her ballot for the second time as she has voted all through her life and hardly want to miss any. Her daughter who accompanied Manji responded that her mother insists to take her to the polling station every time as she does not want to miss her right. A 78 year old Janaki told that she not only votes but also had motivated people over the importance of voting as she was part of local bodies for 20 years since her young age.
But, the first time voter Sudha told the media persons that she has mixed feelings for the double opportunity. “I am happy to cast my vote but at the same time losing study hours, that too for the second time is worrying,” she said. Sudha is a first year BCom student at Bhandarkars college in Kundapur and her examinations are going on.
The re-polling in the particular polling station was held owing to some technical snag developed on the electronic votine machine (EVM) during the polling held on April 17. The polling station was equipped with elaborate arrangements with sufficient polling and security officials discharging their duties. PSI and SI-level officers were in-charge of the security in the polling station as it comes under sensitive category. Kundapur DySP was in-charge of overall security. Micro observer and flying squad were present at the booth. The EVM has been immediately dispatched to Shimoga DC, who is the returning officer of the parliamentary constituency after the completion of the polling.