ZP, TP polls peaceful in Kodagu district

The villagers of Athur in Kushalnagar boycotted the election demanding basic facilities. Owing to the technical problem in EVMs, the polling started late in Siddalingapura and Hulagunda polling booths in Somwarpet. Though polling was slow in the beginning, it picked up in the afternoon in some of the booths. As many as 107 are in fray for the 29 ZP seats and 161 are contesting for the 48 TP seats. The district has 403 polling booths.
A 98-year-old retired teacher Putherira Biddappa in Chettalli, 93-year-old Chinnamma in Kodagarahalli, 82-year-old Kathyayini in Kambibane have exercised their franchise enthusiastically in the district.

The villagers alleged that the names of 58 voters have been missing in Neerukolli in Kadagadalu ZP limits. In Guddehosur, the name of one Sharada was missing in the voters list. However, her mother-in-law Puttamani’s name was found in the list. In fact, Puttamani had passed away few years ago.

Boycott
As many as 327 voters of Athur village in Guddehosur boycotted the election. Though Deputy Commissioner K H Ashwathanarayana Gowda and SP Manjunath Annigeri visited the spot and tried to persuade the voters to exercise their franchise, all their efforts went in vain. Technical problem in the EVMs at B Badaga polling booth was rectified after some time, said Madikeri Tahsildar T Rekha.

The polling started late in Hathur in Bittangala owing to the technical problem in EVMs. The EVMs were changed in Palibetta and Ponnampet. Several labourers had exercised their franchise in the morning and left for working in fields in the afternoon.

Some of the polling booths registered poor polling in Virajpet taluk. The Kallalla polling booth had 47 voters. However, by 3 pm, only 3 persons had exercised their franchise.  Begur polling booth which had 400 voters, only 60 had cast their vote till 3 pm. The taluk has registered 42 per cent polling till 3 pm, said Taluk polling officer Hanumantharayappa. The polling in Somwarpet was peaceful. Elaborate security arrangements were made for the smooth conduct of TP and ZP polling.

63 pc polling
The available figures of poll percentage are as follows: Madikeri - 63 per cent, Somwarpet - 68 per cent and Virajpet - 54 per cent. The overall poll percentage is 63. However, the exact figures will be available only on Saturday.