By A Correspondent in Bengaluru
The Southern state of Karnataka is all sst to go to poll tomorrow, May 10. Polling will begin at 7 AM and continue till 6 PM. The fate of 2615 candidates for 224 assembly constituencies are at the stake. Over five crore thirty lakh 85 thousand voters are eligible to cast their vote in the state.
More than three lakh polling personnel are deployed to ensure free and fair polls. Besides, 84 thousand state police personnel and over 58000 Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has appealed to the young and urban electors to take inspiration from the elderly voters like 103-year-old voter Mahadeva Mahalinga Mali and participate actively in the festival of democracy. In a statement, the Chief Election Commissioner said that basic facilities like drinking water, toilets, ramps, wheelchair, electricity, volunteers, shades, help desks and parking facilities have been provided at all the polling stations in the state.
The Karnataka Chief Electoral Office has issued a directive to hotels and other establishments to stop announcing discounts for voters who cast their vote tomorrow. These establishments have been advised to refrain from making such announcements so long the Model Code of Conduct is in force, till the counting is over on Saturday.
The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation has extended Namma Metro train services till late midnight on the election day. The last train from the terminal station at Baiyappanahalli, Kengeri, Nagasandra, Silk Institute, K R pura and Whitefield will depart at 00.05 hours midnight and the last train from the other side will depart at 00.35 hours. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation sadi, as most of their fleet of buses are used for the election, skeletal bus services available tonight and tomorrow.
Meanwhile, enforcement agencies have seized goods and freebies worth over 375 crore rupees while enforcing the Model Code of Conduct in the poll-bound state.
Karnataka Elections: Rs 375 crore worth of goods and freebies seized so far
Increase in seizures marks increased focus on expenditure monitoring in Karnataka
AMN / WEB DESK
The enforcement agencies have seized goods and freebies worth over 375 crore rupees while enforcing the Model Code of Conduct during the Karnataka Assembly election. This is 4.5 times more than the seizures recorded in the 2018 Assembly election in the state.
The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth 288 crore rupees after the imposition of Model Code of Conduct. A cash haul of over four crore rupees in Bangarpet Assembly constituency and 100 kg ganja seized in Bidar district were notable seizures. To keep a strict vigil 146 Expenditure Observers were deputed to ensure inducement free election. Going by the seizures, the Election Commission has marked 81 Assembly constituencies in the state to be expenditure sensitive.