Council election: Stage set for polling on Monday

Dharwad: Curtains came down on hectic campaigning for the election to legislative council from West Teachers’ constituency on Saturday evening. The polling will be held from 8am to 5pm on Monday.
Seven candidates including seven-time MLC Basavaraj Horatti (BJP), Basavaraj Gurikar (Congress), SN Gadadinni (JD-S) are in the fray. While Horatti who joined BJP recently is eying a record eighth term in a row in the council, Gurikar is trying to make a debut in the Upper House.
Earlier Horatti had fought the elections with support from teachers’ organizations. Now, he is also enjoying the support of BJP workers. BJP state president Nalinkumar Kateel, Union minister Prahlad Joshi, ministers CN Ashwathnarayan, BC Nagesh, Halappa Achar, Shivaram Hebbar, former minister Jagadish Shettar and others have campaigned for Horatti.
Opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah, MLC Saleem Ahmed, former minister RV Deshpande and others met teachers and sought votes for Congress nominee Gurikar. JD(S) floor leader HD Kumarswamy campaigned for Gadadinni.
The West Teachers’ constituency covers Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Uttara Kannada districts. It has 17,973 voters and there will be preferential voting. Dharwad has 6,445 voters followed by Haveri 4,623, Uttara Kannada 3,605 and Gadag 3,300. Since Dharwad district has the highest number of voters, all candidates are focusing on Dharwad.
Deputy commissioners of the four districts visited the mustering centres at the taluk headquarters and reviewed the preparation. They also checked the election materials besides the kits to prevent Covid-19 infection provided to the staff on polling duty. In Dharwad, deputy commissioner Gurudatt Hegde visited the polling centres and reviewed the arrangements. Counting of votes will take place in Belagavi on June 15.