34 candidates in election fray in Udupi district

The number of candidates in election fray remained 34 as five candidates withdrew their nomination papers on the final day for withdrawal of the nominations on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis, who is also the district election officer, told reporters that there are a total of nine contestants in Byndoor, five each in Kundapur and Kaup, eight in Udupi and seven in Karkala constituency respectively.

The candidates who have withdrawn their candidature are Rakesh Mallya and Vikas Hedge in Kundapur, Ramesh Marakala and Shiroor Mutt seer Sri Lakshmivara Theertha Swamy in Udupi and Mohammed Sharief in Karkala. Three nomination papers were rejected, she added.

She said the first round of randomisation is over for EVMs and VVPATS in the presence of the observers. There are 1,103 polling booths in the district as against the earlier 1,078. There are 1,437 ballot units, 1,315 control units and 1,381 VVPATs. There are 221 critical polling booths.

From March 27 to April 24, Rs 92,82,130 was seized and Rs 13,75,750 was released. As many as 27 excise shops have been suspended. IML, Goa liquor, beer and toddy worth Rs 52,19,395 worth were seized in the district, she gave details.

Under the restriction imposed by the Media Monitoring Cell and Media Certification Centre, a notice has been served to the Smile Television Network in Kundapur for promoting the advertisements and other materials related to a candidate of a party on the charge of paid news. Action will be taken against network under Cable TV Regulation ACt after the reply is received, she said.

In the process of visits, she and the police superintendent acknowledged the difficulties of the villagers in the remote areas in Byndoor Assembly constituency. There is no area connectivity. Hence, the local vehicle operators are requested to run their vehicles on the voting day to those remote areas to help the villagers to come and vote. Besides, the vehicles, which are carrying the polling staffers, will also be used for the purpose, she added.