Kodagu registers 70 pc polling

Kodagu has 98 Gram Panchayats. However, the term of Gonikoppa and Ponnampet is not over. The members to Kutta and Nalkeru Gram Panchayats were elected unanimously. Madikeri taluk has 22, Virajpet—32 and Somwarpet has 40 Gram Panchayats. Election was held for 1107 seats. 3,21,599 voters decide the fate of 3,282 candidates. The district has 88 sensitive and 48 hyper senstive polling booths.

The voters were seen exercising their franchise enthusiastically from morning. In many polling booths, by 11 am, the polling per centage was 30. In some booths, it was 40 per cent.

Handicapped persons, aged were seen exercising their franchise in Chettalli, Siddapura, Galibeedu, Chikkakolathur.

The polling was stopped in Haradooru and Anjanabettageri booths in Somwarpet following in the change of ballot papers till 10 am.Later, election officials rectified the confusion and sent the ballot papers to the respective polling booths. In Kadagadalu Gram Panchayat, a person was assaulted by four in connection to election. The injured has been admitted to district hospital.

For the security purpose, 35 sector striking force with 3 platoons of KSRP, 9 DAR have been kept ready in case of emergency.

For the election, 3 DySP, 10 CPI, 65 PSI/ASI, 744 head constables, 300 Home Guards have been deployed. Police personnel from Ramnagar district have also been deployed. Deputy Commissioner K H Ashwathanarayana Gowda, SP Manjunath K Annigeri, ZP CEO Mirja Akbarulla, Agriculture Joint Director K R Krishnanaiah visited various polling booths.