Hunsur gears up for polling on December 5

Mysuru: The byelection for the Hunsur assembly constituency will be held on December 5 after AH Vishwanath resigned as legislator along with 16 other MLAs from Congress and JD(S).

The byelection for 15 assembly seats, earlier scheduled on October 21, was postponed to first week of December by the Election Commission after the disqualified MLAs approached the Supreme Court against the Speaker’s ruling and sought quashing of their disqualification.

The court will pronounce its verdict on November 13.

Deputy commissioner Abhiram G Sankar, who is the District Election Officer, on Monday said the model code of conduct will come into effect from MondayThe counting of votes will be held on December 9.

Sankar said the constituency will have 274 polling booths where 2.2 lakh voters (1.1 lakh male, 1.1 lakh female and 4 others) will cast their votes. There are 258 visually impaired, 92 speech disabled, 1098 locomotive disabled and 787 with other disability in the constituency.

For the first time, EC is using advanced EVM and VVPAT M3 machines. Hunsur will have 546 Ballot Unit (BU), 540 Control Unit (CU) and 527 VVPAT. “We’ll have reserve machines and 28 additional machines used for training,” he said.

The machines have been kept in Hunsur City Municipal Council office been guarded by CCTV cameras and armed police. The mustering and demustering had been arranged at Sri D Devaraj Urs Government First Grade College in Hunsur Town. “We have tentatively planned the college building for counting also,” he said.

Sankar said the model code of conduct will be applicable only to Hunsur assembly constituency and not applicable to entire district and whereas for KR Pet constituency, the restrictions will be applicable to entire Mandya district.

Disqualified MLAs nomination

Sankar said he does not have any directions regarding applications already filed by candidates when the bypoll was announced in September. “We have not received any clarification from EC whether those applications have to be considered. Two independents candidates filed their nominations earlier,” he said.

He said he hasn’t received any clarification regarding disqualified MLAs filing nomination papers. “If any disqualified MLAs comes to file nomination papers, we’ll have to seek the EC’s clarification,” he said.

Around 300 Aadhaar cards missing

During the recent rain and floods in the district, Hunsur taluk was badly affected where houses were flooded and buildings were damaged. Sankar said he received around 300 complaints where Aadhaar cards are missing.

“We had to open a camp where flood-affected people had registered their complaints about the house damage and crop loss due to floods. We came to know that around 300 Aadhaar cards are missing. Considering them special cases, we’ll provide them new Aadhaar cards,” he said.

Security arrangements

SP CB Rishyanth said six checkposts – Madakanahalli, Veeranahosahall, Chikkunda, Gowdagere, Muthurayanahosahalli, Hosahalli - have been set up, five flying squads, six CPI mobile squads and 21 sector mobiles headed by either PSI or SI.

“Officers will patrol the constituency and look into any complaint. For bandobast, we’re using around 1,000 men including 950 regular policemen, KSRP, DAR and CAR personnel,” he said.

“We started issuing election warrants and arms deposits too had been started where almost 50 per cent arms were deposited. There are 385 licensed arms with private persons in the constituency of which 230 weapons are yet to be deposited in police stations,” he said.

He added, “We’re monitoring persons who had election-related cases. The activities of intimidators are being monitored. Mobile checkposts will be set up,” he said .

Tough measures

* 1,315 officers and staff assigned for election duty

* People can contact 1077, 1950, 08222-252073 (Hunsur AC Office) and 08222-252040 (Hunsur Taluk Office) for information, feedback, suggestions and complaints

* People can carry Rs 50,000 cash in Hunsur constituency and cash above this amount, if found, will be seized if the person doesn’t produce documents to support the purpose

* People who travel towards Gonikoppa, Hassan and Madikeri via Hunsur Road should carry all documents for their items

* General Observer will report to election duty before November 18 while Expenditure Observer will report on November 20

* IAS officer Poorvitha is assistant commissioner for Hunsur sub-division from Monday and will be the returning officer

* On Day 1 for filing of nominations, no candidate filed his papers