Dist admin gears up for Assembly polls
Deputy Commissioner SB Bommanahalli who is also the returning officer to the district speaks on calendar of events and Model Code of Conduct for the Assembly polls, at his office in Dharwad on Tuesday.
With the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing the dates for assembly polls in the State on Tuesday, the model code of conduct (MCC) has come into force from Tuesday itself.
Giving details on the preparations for the polls and on the calendar of events to media persons at his office here on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner SB Bommanahalli, who is also the returning officer, stated that a total of 11,000 government officials would be roped in for the entire electoral process. This apart, Central government officials would also be roped in for the electoral process, and they will be appointed as micro observers.
He stated that there are seven constituencies in the district of which six are general constituencies, while one is SC reserve constituency (Hubballi-Dharwad East).
The total population of the district projected for the year 2018 is 20.52 lakh, of which 14.48 lakh people are declared as eligible voters.
In Navalgund taluk, there are 2.06 lakh voters, in Kundgol 1.84 lakh, Dharwad rural 2.03 lakh, H-D East 1.90 lakh, H-D Central 2.33 lakh, H-D West 2.49 lakh voters, and in Kalghatgi there are 1.86 lakh voters.
Calender of events
Mr Bommahalli stated that the issuing of gazette notification for the 2018 assembly polls would be announced on April 17, and filing of nominations by the candidates would begin from that day itself. April 24 would be the last day for filing of nomination papers. The scrutiny of papers would be held on April 25, and April 27 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
If required, polling would be held on May 12, and the counting of votes would be held on May 15. The entire election process shall be completed on May 18.
Polling booths
Mr Bommanahalli said the district administration would be set up as many as 1,628 polling booths in the district. Of them, 884 polling booths would be set up in urban areas, and 714 in rural areas.
The ECI has asked to set up polling booths in areas having more than 1,400 population in urban areas, and 1,300 in rural areas.
Accordingly, he said, 219 polling booths would be set up in Navalgund, 202 in Kundgol, 212 in Dharwad Rural, 183 in H-D East, 210 in H-D Central, 226 in H-D West, and 220 in Kalghatgi. in addition to this, 30 auxiliary polling booths would be established, he said.
All the polling booths would be having ramps to facilitate the physically challenged to come to the booth and cast their votes.
He said, the district administration has identified 319 polling booths as hyper sensitive polling booths, and 206 as sensitive polling booths. Here, sector police officer and sector revenue officer would be deployed.
Speaking on the occasion, ZP Chief Executive Officer Snehal Rayamane said, the SVEEP committee has decided to deploy 10 volunteers in each polling booth to help the people with disabilities to cast their vote.