Udupi: Voters enthusiastic as polling begins in Udupi-Chikmaglur constituency

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 17 April 2014: Voters’ enthusiasm in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election could be seen as quite a large number of voters were seen queuing up at the voting booths at Belle Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle. Quite a number of residents of Moodubell township were in the line as they were eager to  cast their vote before rush would start and also to avoid the scorching heat of the summer.  Rajendra Shetty, the President of Belle Grama Panchayat  speaking to this reporter said that he was the first  person to cast his vote and expected more than 80 percent of the voters to exercise their franchise.  Looking at the enthusiasm of the voters, it seems that the overall  voting percentage may touch the expected figure.

 

 

 

In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election that started on Thursday, 17 April 2014 from 7 am polling is being held in 121 seats across 12 states. Thus, the Lok Sabha elections will cross the half-way mark in the more than a month-long exercise.

 

Polling is being held in 28 seats in Karnataka, followed by Rajasthan (20), Maharashtra (19), Uttar Pradesh and Odisha (11 each), Madhya Pradesh (10), Bihar (7), Jharkhand (6), West Bengal (4), Chhattisgarh (3), Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur (1 each). Out of 28 seats in Karnataka, BJP has 18 sitting MPs, Congress 8 and JDS 1.

 

Udupi Chickmagalur constituency with an electorate of 13,86,742  has the lowest number of voters in Karnataka.   This is one among the three constituencies in Karnataka apart from Dakshina Kannada and Shimoga  where female voters outnumber males.  Taking this factor into account BJP has fielded Shobha Karandlaje from Udupi-Chickmagalur against  Jayaprakash Hegde of the Congress. 

 

Other candidates in the contest are Dhanjay Kumar who is former MP from Dakshina Kannada and  close-confidante turned foe of Yeddyurappa contesting the election as  the JD(S) candidate, Zakir Hussain of BSP, Vijay Kumar of CPI, Gurudev of Aam Aadmi party, C J Jagannath from CPI(M) and four independents. However, for all practical purposes the election is a contest between BJP and Congress.

 

 

Shankerpura- Vote Polling Station Udupi-chikmangalore constituency

By Johncy Digitals