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Day 1: Six take the plunge from four seats

BENGALURU: The election process for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka formally kicked off on Tuesday with the Election Commission of India (EC) notifying elections and six candidates filing 11 nominations in four constituencies. Fourteen constituencies will go to the polls on April 18.


The candidates who filed their nominations on Day 1 were Ambrose D Mello from Bengaluru South, Supreeth Kumar Poojari from Dakshina Kannada , Kowdle Channappa from Mandya and Ayub Khan, Sandhay PS and Anand JJ from Mysuru-Kodagu.

March 26 is the last date for filing nominations, while their scrutiny is on March 27. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is March 29.


Candidates will have to publish three advertisements each in newspapers and television media about criminal cases, if any, against them, BBMP commissioner and district electoral officer N Manjunatha Prasad said. He said apart from candidates, even political parties have to put out such advertisements. Election officials had a meeting with political parties and directed them to follow EC guidelines.

Prasad said five election observers have arrived in the city and are reviewing preparations. On the last day of nomination, around 10 general election observers will arrive in the city, besides three IPS officers who have been appointed as police observers.

M3 machines

Prasad said eight assembly constituencies in Bengaluru Central parliamentary constituency will use the M3 version of electronic voting machines. He said these machines were used during assembly polls in 2018 in Bengaluru Central parliamentary constituency. M3 machines are slimmer than M2 machines and send out an alert if somebody tries to meddle with them. All electronic voting machines are being checked and all are in good condition, Prasad said.

8,000 rowdies on the radar

City police commissioner T Suneel Kumar said the EC has directed police to ensure execution of non-bailable warrants and preventive measures against rowdies who can influence voters. “We have identified around 8,000 rowdies under the eight police divisions in the city and are taking action against them. Around 7,000 arms have been deposited in various police stations,” he added.

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