Some voters who came to exercise their franchise at the polling stations on Sunday were sore that development works had not taken place in their villages in Udupi district.
Some others spoke about the problems they faced from the naxals as well as the police in the naxal-affected villages.
Sadhu Hegde, a resident of Sitanadi and former gram panchayat member, who cast his vote at the Forest Lodge polling station, said that nearly 40 houses in Bangargudde hamlet did not have drinking water facility. There was no good road in the hamlet.
The long-pending demand had been ignored by the authorities. “The naxalites and the police both troubled the people. The former want support, the latter want information,” Mr. Hegde said.
Krishna, who worked as a car driver and cast his vote at the Government Higher Primary School at Nadpal village, said the polling arrangements were too stringent this time. “We were frightened by the amount of rules imposed by the officers. There had been no naxal problem here,” he said.
Elders
Some senior citizens made it to the polling stations in spite of their indifferent health and advancing age to exercise their right to vote
Eighty-year-old Govinda Kulal came to cast his vote with the help of his son at the Zilla Panchayat Lower Primary School at Gavali village in Kundapur taluk.
After casting his vote, Mr. Kulal said that although there had been development in his village, more was required. “A storm-water drain is the urgent requirement at our village,” he said.
Meenakka Heggadti (70), who suffered a fall recently and had difficulty in walking, came to vote with the help of her son Sadashiva Hegde to Government Higher Primary School at Someshwara Pete village in Karkala taluk.
Achu Sherigar (90) came to cast her vote with the help of her daughter Saraswati Sherigar and grandson Prasadkiran at Hanumantnagar School in Udupi.
