Star contestants in Karnataka push Mysuru into limelight

MYSURU: The high stakes battle in Varuna constituency in Mysuru region has put it in the centre of attraction this election season. As voters are set to cast their votes to elect their representatives on Wednesday, polling staff along with security staff picked up polling materials and reached their booths to conduct the polls in Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts.
All the seven districts in the region have more female voters compared to their male counterparts. Pink polling booths (Sakhi), PWD polling booths, ethnic polling booths continue to be the major attractions.

In Mysuru district, 26.55 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in 11 constituencies. Among them 13.38 lakh voters are female voters while the number of male voters is 13.17 lakh. Nearly 2,905 polling booths have been set up and 230 transgenders are also eligible to cast votes. Chamundeshwari constituency has the highest number of voters with 3.29 lakh voters, while Periyapatna has lowest number of voters with a total number 1.95 lakh voters.
Mysuru district DC KV Rajendra on Tuesday told reporters that the district administration has set a target of achieving above 90% voting this time.
In Chamarajanagar, 4.26 lakh male voters and 4.34 lakh female voters are eligible to cast votes in four constituencies, and 69 transgenders are also enroled. Hanur has the highest number of voters of 2.21 lakh. Chamarajanagar constituency has lowest 2.09 lakh voters and 982 polling booths have been set up.
In Mandya, 1,798 polling booths were set up in 7 constituencies, which includes 7.74 lakh females, 7.59 males, and 145 transgenders who are eligible to cast votes.
In Chikkamagaluru, the district administration made elaborate arrangements for polling. The district has more female voters (4, 91,737), compared to male voters (4,81,466). Authorities said to ensure peaceful polling, the officials have made special security arrangements at Naxal-affected areas in Sringeri, Koppa and Kalasa taluks. There are 26 Naxal-affected booths. The police have deputed additional staff and alternative communication arrangements have been made to ensure safe elections.
The Kodagu district administration has set up 10 Sakhi polling booths and two polling booths for specially-abled, three theme-based booths and two ethnic polling booths. Sakhi polling stations will be manned by women staff and are exclusively meant for women voters. The district has 2.24 male and 2.31 female voters.
In Hassan, 7.50 lakh female, and 7.49 lakh male voters are eligible to cast votes. There are 44 other category voters. About 2,000 polling booths have been set up in seven constituencies of the district.
In Shivamogga district, there are a total of 1,782 booths in the district and 14,73,327 voters will cast their votes. Male voters (7,28,886) are fewer than women (7,43,713). In all, 8,200 polling officers are deployed. Apart from pink booths, Hakki Pikki community will also have ethnic booths at their places in Shivamogga city.