Council polls: Model code of conduct comes into force

Dharwad/ Vijayapura: With the Election Commission of India on Thursday announcing the biennial election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from two graduates’ and two teachers’ constituencies on June 13, the model code of conduct (MCC) has come into force in the jurisdiction of the constituencies with immediate effect.
The term of Nirani Hanumant Rudrappa, who represents Karnataka North-West Graduates’ constituency, KT Shrikantegiwda (Karnataka South Graduates), Arun Shahapur (Karnataka North-West Teachers) and Basavaraj Horatti (Karnataka West Teachers) expires on July 4, 2022.
According to ECI, the election notification will be issued on May 19 and the last date for filing nominations is May 26. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be on May 27. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 30.
Polling, if necessary will be held on June 13 from 8am to 4pm. Counting of votes will take place on June 15 and June 17 is the deadline for completing the election process.
The NW graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies cover Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Belagavi districts while south teachers’ and graduates’ constituency covers Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajnagar and Hassan. The west teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies cover Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Uttara Kannada districts.
The regional commissioners of Belagavi and Mysuru are the chief election officers.
Dharwad deputy commissioner Gurudatt Hegde said on Thursday that when the model code of conduct is in force, the ongoing development works for which work orders have already been issued will continue but no fresh work will be tendered.
He said mistakes in the voter list of west teachers’ constituency pointed out by the media are being corrected and names of ineligible voters are being deleted.
Vijaypura DC Vijaymahantesh Danammanavar told TOI that North West teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies will have 40 polling booths and mustering and demustering will be done at the tahsildar’s offices of the respective taluks.
While there are 5,512 voters (4,094 men and 1,418 women) for teachers’ constituency, there are 14,846 voters including 11,218 men and 3,626 women for graduates’ constituency. As many as 13 teams have been constituted to ensure that model code of conduct is followed strictly.
The elections will be held following Covid-19 protocol strictly, he added.