About 70 % voting in repolling at 12 booths in Karnataka

Bangalore, Apr 29 (PTI) An estimated 70 per cent of the
electorate today cast their vote in the re-polling held at 12
polling stations across nine Lok Sabha constituencies in
Karnataka.
        "We have estimated 65 to 70 per cent voter turnout at
re-polling held in 12 polling stations today," Karnataka Chief
Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told PTI.
        "Polling was normal and peaceful," he added.
        The CEO had recommended re-polling at 11 polling stations
due to technical problems in EVMs and polling station at
Turuvekere in Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency because of human
error committed by election officials.
        Re-polling took place in polling stations in Lok Sabha
constituencies of Tumkur, Haveri, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga,
Raichur, Bidar, Shimoga and Hassan.
        All 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka went to
polls on April 17 in a single phase, registering an overall
67.28 per cent polling.
        CEO had earlier suspended four election officials for
trying to handle the voting machine in violation of electoral
laws. PTI KSU 

Repolling in 12 polling stations in Karnataka on April 29

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  B D Narayankar reports
  
  

  Bangalore, April 26 (PTI) Repolling will be held in 12 polling stations spread across nine Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka on April 29 due to technical problems in Electronic Voting Machines during the April 17 single-phase polls.

  Announcing the repolling, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said the model code of conduct will come into operation with immediate effect in those districts where repolling has been recommended.

  Jha said repolling was recommended in 11 polling stations due to technical problems in EVMs. "We recommended repolling in Turuvekere polling station in Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency after finding out human error committed by election officials on duty," he added.

  Four election officials, who committed the mistake, have been suspended, Jha said adding they tried to handle the voting machine in violation of electoral laws.

  Repolling will take place in polling stations located in Lok Sabha constituencies of Tumkur, Haveri, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Shimoga and Hassan, he said.

  Asked whether there would be a repoll in the light of state unit JD-S President and party's Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency candidate A Krishnappa's death on April 23, he said "first we have to complete the process of counting and a decision will be taken after the results come out." Jha also expressed satisfaction over the voters turnout in three of Bangalore's Lok Sabha seats even though it registered one per cent drop compared to the 2013 assembly elections.

  In the assembly elections, as much as 57.64% of voters turnout was registered in 24 assembly segments of Bangalore North, South and Central Lok Sabha seats, Jha said.

  In comparison, the voters turnout in 24 assembly segments in Lok Sabha elections held in Bangalore's three constituencies registered 55.99% of voters turnout, Jha said.

  "Even if it is 1% less compared to voters turnout in assembly polls, it can be said it was a good show by the voters. There were 2,66,019 new voters who exercised their franchise in Bangalore's three seats," he said.

  
  

Karnataka govt urges EC to withdraw Model Code

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, April 21 (PTI) With the single-phase Lok Sabha polls in the state over on April 17, Karnataka Government has written to the Election Commission asking it to withdraw the Model Code of Conduct to enable it to take up developmental programmes.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said the Chief Secretary has written a letter to the Election Commission to withdraw Model Code of Conduct.

"We are expecting a response from the EC soon," he told reporters here.

Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar said government was waiting for a letter from EC announcing withdrawal of the Model Code of Conduct to take up programmes including free bicycle distribution scheme.

Speaking to reporters separately, Ratnakar said the tender process involving the implementation of free bicycle distribution scheme had been completed, but could not be pushed forward due to the Model Code.

"Once we get the nod from the EC, we will immediately distribute the bicycles to high school students," he said.

The Minister said the Model Code affected the distribution of free books and uniforms to school students. "By first week of June, free books and uniforms will be distributed," he said.

The government has alloted Rs 90 crore for free books, Rs 80 crore for uniforms and Rs 173 crore for bicycle distribution, Ratnakar said.

He also said the transfer of teachers has been affected due to the Model Code. Transfer of 16,000 couple-employees has been affected and the government plans to bring strict transfer policy soon to put a check on middlemen.