Notwithstanding what appeared to be a poor turnout of the youth for voting in the elections to Mangalore City Corporation council on Thursday, the civic body recorded a moderate 64.25 per cent (provisional) polling. In the 2007 elections the council had recorded 60.85 per cent voting.
During a visit to many polling stations in the jurisdiction of the corporation, it appeared that the turnout of the youth, aged between 18 years and 30, was poor in a majority of the stations. Middle-aged and senior citizens were seen in large number. No long queues were seen in many booths. The turnout of people was more in Jeppinamogaru and Alape wards in the afternoon.
According to the office of Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner, of the 3, 22,293 voters 2, 07,071 exercised their franchise. In the 2007 elections, 1, 95,802 of the 3, 21,780 eligible voters had cast their votes.
The provisional polling statistics provided by the office of the city corporation Commissioner said that of the 60 wards, the highest polling (75.29 per cent) was recorded at Kannur ward (no. 52) followed by 73.95 per cent in Pachchanady ward (no. 19) and 73.76 per cent in Thiruvail ward (no. 20). The lowest percentage of polling (47.35 per cent) was recorded in Bendoor ward (no. 38).
In addition to 60 wards of the MCC council, 23 wards each of Moodbidri and Bantwal town municipal councils, 27 wards each of Ullal and Puttur town municipal councils, 18 wards of Sullia town panchayat, and 11 wards of Belthangady town panchayat went to the polls on Thursday.
According to a release by the Department of Information, 66.24 per cent voting was recorded for elections to seven urban local bodies in the district.
The percentage (provisional) of voting recorded was 73.84 Moodbidri, 76.09 at Bantwal, 70.08 at Ullal , 71.23 at Puttur, 80.01at Sullia, and 75.49 at Belthangady.
Peaceful
Barring some minor incidents, voting was peaceful in the district. The counting will be on March 11.
Litmus test
The elections would be a litmus test for both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
