25 in fray for graduates' constituency polls

Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, Regional Commissioner M V Jayanthi who is also the returning officer of the polls said that the registered voters of Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Hassan districts are eligible to exercise their franchise. The Deputy Commissioners of the four districts will be assistant returning officers of the elections. There are 43,784 voters in Mysore district, 5,845 in Chamarajanagar district, 21,106 in Mandya district and 17,548 in Hassan district. A total of 116 polling booths will be set up in the four districts. In Mysore City, there will be 43 polling stations. Apart from this, there will be a polling booth in each taluk headquarters and special taluk centres, she said.

As many as 37 candidates had filed 67 nomination papers and papers of two candidates were rejected. Ten candidates withdrew their papers. Each polling booth will be managed by one ‘B’ grade officer and three polling officers will assistant him/her. Training for poll personnel will be held on June 15. The voters have to give their preferential votes in the form of 1, 2, 3 and 4 and write the number with the sketch pen given at the polling booths. They should not use pen or pencil to mark the vote.  The candidates are free to get printed model ballot paper of any colour except pink and white. However, they are not supposed to print the names of candidates. The election code of conduct has been in force since May 14 and will continue till June 26. Any violations by candidates attract punitive action. Unlike Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, the candidates of Graduates’ Constituencies need not submit the statement of election expenditure, she explained.
Jayanthi said that the counting of votes will be taken up on June 24 at JSS Arts, Commerce and Science College on Ooty Road from 8 am onwards. The election campaign should be folded up two days before the date of polling. Mobile phones, cameras, pen, pencils and papers are not allowed inside the polling booths.

IGP (Southern Range) ASN Murthy told reporters that as many as 33 polling booths are categorised as hyper-sensitive and 19 as sensitive. As many as 25 inspectors, 30 sub-inspectors and 400 other personnel will be drawn into election duty, he added.