‘Inform election officers about Yakshagana plays'

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S has urged the organisers to inform in advance about Yakshagana plays to the election officers.

He was addressing the joint press meet conducted along with City Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil and Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police B M Lakshmi Prasad at DC Hall here, on Monday.

The directions comes in the background of Yakshagana plays being used to campaign on behalf of political parties and candidates. “Thus it is better to inform the officials in the beginning rather than face problems at the later stage,” Senthil said.

He said the Election Commission had included social media under the ambit of its election code of conduct and any campaign in social media will be included in the candidate’s expenditure list. All political advertisements on social media will require pre-certification, Senthil said.

The deputy commissioner said that all political, religious and other flexes and banners installed across the district were being cleared.

“The public can also remove it on their own and keep flexes in their custody. The permission from local authorities are mandatory for installing flexes and banners in private places.”

According to the voters list published on January 16, Dakshina Kannada district has 16,97,417 voters. The number of voters during 2014 Lok Sabha polls was 15,64,114. The number of voters had increased by 1,33,303 in the past five years.

A total of 21,292 young voters had registered in the district, the DC said.

The district has 1,861 polling booths. A total of 2,698 ballot units, 2,233 control units and 2,419 VVPATs had been readied for the polling.

To check illegalities during election, Senthil said 73 flying squads, 62 static surveillance teams and 25 video teams had been set up. The use of public address system has been banned from 10 pm to 6 am. The public can also complain about any election-related malpractices through cVigil app.

City Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said 11 externment proceedings had been initiated against rowdy sheeters. Further, preventive security has been initiated against 1,120 rowdy sheeters.

Six inter-state check posts had been set up in the district. There are 2,010 licensed gun owners in City Police Commissionerate jurisdiction. Notices had been served to licensed gun owners to deposit their arms at the nearest police station, he added.

SP Lakshmi Prasad said there were 46 polling booths in Maoist-affected areas.

“CRPF personnel will be deployed at the Maoist-affected areas. There are 9,621 licensed gun owners in Dakshina Kannada district (barring police commissionerate),” he added.

In Udupi

Udupi Deputy Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati said that preparations were underway for the smooth conduct of polls in the district.

Assistant electoral officers had been appointed in eight assembly constituencies covering Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency. The number of voters during 2014 election was 13,51,245 . Now, the number of voters is 14,94,443. The Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency has 1,837 polling booths. Chikkamagaluru DC will monitor the election preparations in Chikkamagaluru, she said.

Korlapati said, “The drive to clear all publicity materials installed in public places had been initiated. The use of party banners on the terrace of the houses will be cleared immediately. SP Nisha James warned of booking cases against those who spread false information on social media.

Udupi Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Sindhu B Roopesh said, “Sveep is organising awareness programme to increase the polling percentage. Efficiency of EVM and VVPAT in different parts of the district. Sveep activities will be intensified in the areas that had registered low polling percentage. Awareness will also be created through Yakshagana and streetplays,” she added.