Date:23/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/23/stories/2008042353590400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Notification issued for second phase of polls

Special Correspondent

66 constituencies will go to the polls on May 16

The 66 segments have 110.26 lakh voters in all
The last date for filing nominations is April 29

BANGALORE: The State Government on Tuesday issued the notification for the second phase of the Assembly elections scheduled to be held on May 16.

Sixty-six Assembly constituencies in Raichur, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davangere, Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada districts will go to the polls in the second phase.

There are 110.26 lakh voters in the 66 constituencies, of whom 55.25 lakh are men and 55.02 lakh are women, State Chief Electoral Officer M.N. Vidyashankar told journalists here on Tuesday.

The last date for filing nominations is April 29. The nominations will be scrutinised on April 30, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 2.

The three major political parties — the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) — have already announced their candidates for the first phase of elections scheduled to be held on May 10.

For the first phase of elections, 79 people, including 38 in Bangalore, filed their nomination papers in various constituencies on Tuesday. Many leaders, however, did not file nominations on Tuesday considering it an “inauspicious” day. Wednesday is the last day for filing nominations for the first phase.

Mr. Vidyashankar said training has been completed for Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Superintends of Police and District Election Officers who will be supervising the first phase of elections.

The Election Commission-appointed general and expenditure observers had reached the respective constituencies where elections would be held on May 10.

He said the process of randomisation, checking and testing of electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been completed in districts going to the polls in the first phase.

The State Government has released Rs. 15 crore to meet the election expenses. Earlier, it released Rs. 40 crore.

Star campaigners

In accordance with the Election Commission’s rules, he said the commission had allowed recognised (national) parties to rope in 40 “star campaigners” and registered (regional) parties to bring in 20 such campaigners. The election expenses of these campaigners would be accounted for separately, he said.