Mangalore, May 5, 2013:
The Dakshina Kannada district witnessed a few newly wedded couple coming to the polling booth straight from the marriage hall. Such incidents were reported from Brahmavar, Kaup and Uppor.
Dakshina Kannada 70, Udupi records 75 per cent voting
Dakshina Kannada district recorded overall voting of 70.10 percent voting. Though the percentage was sluggish till 3 pm and it was 65 percent till 5 pm. The election commission had extended the timing of polling from 5 to 6 pm and finally the average voting stood at 70 percent. Udupi district recorded an overall voter turnout of 75.6 percent.
The turnout percentage in the five Assembly constituencies in the district is as follows:
Byndoor – 76% Kaup – 72% Udupi – 76% Kundapur – 75% Karkala – 79%
Except for two minor incidents in Capitanio and Bendoor, polling in Dakshina Kannada has been by and large peaceful. 52 per cent voting has been reported from the district till 4 pm which is a big disappointment as the district administration had carried out a massive campaign encouraging voters to vote.
Clashes:
There was a clash between BJP and Congress workers at Capitanio and chaos prevailed in a booth in St Sebastian polling booths. According to reports some hostel students residing at a hotel in Kankanady were prevented from voting allegedly by BJP supporters as they claimed that the students were not from this city. However, it is said that their names were found in the voters’ list.
This led to arguments between the BJP and Congress workers. Police rushed to the spot and BSF personnel and other paramilitary forces also intervened when it seemed the matter was getting out of control.
Mean while another incident has been reported where more than 25 students from Athena Nursing College were allegedly prevented from voting by polling booth staff saying that they are Keralites.
To make the matter worst political party representatives joined the dispute which solved only after the arrival of the police.
