Rain did not deter the spirit of voters in Dakshina Kannada on Friday as they came out in large numbers to elect their representatives for the local self government – gram panchayats. The polling went on almost incident-free with the police making elaborate security arrangements.
At the end of the day, approximately 74 per cent of the 10,16,024 electorate members had exercised their franchise, according to the district election office.
The district saw brisk voting, particularly in Mangaluru taluk, and more so in places surrounding Ullal town since morning. Though it started to rain heavily by around 10 a.m., it did not dampen the spirit of voters.
While district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai exercised his franchise at Kadumbila village under Kallige panchayat, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader cast his vote in Boliyar.
The enthusiasm to exercise their franchise brought a bride-to-be to the polling booth in Kalladka village in Bantwal taluk before she entered wedlock, while a 90-year old woman came amid heavy rain in Naravi village in Belthangady village.
Of the 3,399 seats in 227 panchayats in the district, elections were held for 3,288 seats. While 109 candidates had been elected unopposed, nominations were not filed for two seats. As many as 7,619 candidates were in the fray. Due to defects in ballot papers, re-elections would be held for two seats — Bandaru village in Belthangady taluk and Paduperar village in Mangaluru taluk.
Sullia recorded the highest turnout, 77.94 per cent followed by Puttur, 75.43; Bantwal 73.4, Belthangady, 72.89 and Mangaluru 68.73.
Prominent among the contestants is Vittala Malekudiya, contesting Naravi panchayat in Belthangady taluk. He was arrested by the police on March 3, 2012, for his alleged links with the Maoists, and was subsequently charged with the same offence along with his father Linganna Malekudiya.
