Enhanced booth-level activities help improve polling

While political parties claim credit for the good activity at the booth level, the officials said that programmes taken up under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) and steps, including transportation for voters residing in distant areas, have contributed to a significant increase in polling in the eight Assembly constituencies in the district this year compared to the 2013 Assembly elections.

As against 74.9 % polling in 2013, the average voter turnout in the district is 77.88 % this time. Apart from new voters exercising their franchise, a good number of old voters also turned up this time.

A notable increase was seen in Belthangady Assembly Constituency where Congress’ K. Vasanth Bangera is pitted against young BJP candidate Harish Poonja. As against 25,016 new voters compared to the 2013 Assembly election, 32,062 more votes were polled in this election compared to 2013 polls, which is 7,046 more than the new voters that were added.

A similar trend is seen in Bantwal where district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai of the Congress is pitted against Rajesh Naik U. of the BJP.

As against the 24,675 new voters that were added, 25,941 more voters have exercised their franchise.

In Sullia, the stronghold of the BJP that has always seen good polling, 20,776 more votes have been polled as against the 18,509 new voters added.

District BJP unit spokesperson Monappa Bhandary and Dakshina Kannada District Congress committee president Harish Kumar say that the increase in polling percentage is because of the good booth level activity.

“When you have strong candidates pitted against each other, you have a good voter turnout,” Mr. Kumar said.

The two leaders praised the work of their party activists who worked to bring voters from their houses to the polling booths.

While voters in the district have generally participated well in elections, Mr. Kumar said that some voters staying outside the district were offered travel fare to visit their home towns and exercise their franchise.

While Mr. Bhandary said that voters were influenced by the political speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Kumar said that the good turnout is an indication of appreciation for the work done by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

SVEEP influence

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S. and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer M.R. Ravi said that awareness activities taken up in the district under SVEEP has also influenced voters. “This 3.1 % increase in polling is really a significant achievement,” Mr. Ravi said. Mr. Senthil said that steps were taken to ensure that all disabled persons cast their votes. Vehicle arrangements were made by KSRTC for people living in 93 habitations who had expressed problems in reaching the nearby polling stations.