901 poll booths in C'magaluru

241 are sensitive, 219 hyper-sensitive where security is beefed up

A total of 901 polling booths have been set up in Chikkamagaluru District for the gram panchayat election scheduled to be held on May 29.

The district has 241 sensitive and 219 hyper-sensitive booths, said Deputy Commissioner B S Shekarappa Briefing reporters on the preparations for the election on Wednesday, he said over 3,500 polling staff have been deployed for the peaceful conduct of the election.

The number of sensitive and hyper-sensitive booths in taluks are as follows; Tarikere—53 sensitive and 116 hyper-sensitive, Chikkamagaluru—47 sensitive and 36 hyper-sensitive, Kadur—39 sensitive and 24 hyper-sensitive, Mudigere—34 sensitive, 12 hyper-sensitive, Koppa—23 sensitive and seven hyper-sensitive, NR Pura—35 sensitive and 24 hyper-sensitive and Sringeri—10 sensitive booths have been set up, he explained. The election to the post of 2,234 seats will be held in 203 gram panchayats. No nominations have been filed for 154 seats. A total of 13 gram panchayats have boycotted the election and 145 members have been elected unopposed. The total candidates in fray are 5,867.

The district administration has not received complaints on violation of poll code of conduct. “We have received a complaint of government employee campaigning for a candidate. I have asked Tahsildar to conduct a probe and submit a report,” the DC added.

SP K Santhosh Babu said that 33 polling booths have been identified in Naxal affected area. Security will be beefed up in such booths. A total of 1,900 police personnel will be deployed. A platoon of CISF have also been deployed.