Karnataka

Maddur bypoll: counting of votes today

Maddur (Mandya District): The fate of 12 candidates, including those who belong to the Janata Dal (Secular), Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 9 independents, who contested from the Maddur Assembly Constituency for which bypoll was held on December 27, is now locked in the electronic voting machines.

About 76.94 percent of voters exercised their franchise on Saturday as against 75 per cent in the election held in May 2008. Workers and leaders of each of the political parties are expecting their candidate to win.

Member of Legislative Council (MLC) and JD (S) leader, K.R. Srikante Gowda claims that nobody can thwart the victory of party candidate Kalpana Siddaraju as she has the support of people from all communities besides which the sympathy factor has worked in her favour. Another leader, Ramakrishna, is confident of the JD (S) winning by a “comfortable” margin.

Similarly, MLC Madhu Made Gowda claims that BJP candidate D.C. Thammanna will win comfortably as the Dalits and people of the backward communities supported the party in view of “development” works being done by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. Increase in percentage of voting will favour party candidate, he adds.

Congress leaders are also not far behind in making similar claims. Block Congress president Kadalur Ramakrishna hopes that electorates have voted Gurucharan as he is young and can work for the development of the constituency.

Besides this, he says voters would have voted for Gurucharan as they respect the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna. However, local Congress leaders are totally disappointed with cine artist and Union Minister Ambareesh and the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for their noncooperation with the party as they did not campaign for their candidate ahead of the bypoll. Followers and fans of Mr. Ambareesh who gathered at Doddarasinakere on Saturday to see the film actor in his native village returned disappointed. However, a supporter clarified that Ambareesh is holidaying in a foreign country, which is an annual affair for him at this time in the year.

Meanwhile, Mandya District Administration has made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes, which will be held at the Government Boys College. Speaking to The Hindu, Chief Returning Officer R. Latha said that two rooms in the Government Boys’ College will be used for counting of votes and each room will accommodate seven tables.

Counting will commence from 8 a.m. on Tuesday and votes will be counted in 17 rounds. “In all probability, results will be out by 12 noon,” she said.

The district police have made elaborate security arrangements. Barricades have been erected 100 meters away from the counting centre. Additional Superintendent of Police Rajanna said that about 150 police personnel, including two deputy superintendent of police, nine circle inspectors, 25 sub-inspectors, and 26 assistant sub-inspectors, 75 constables and 10 lady police have been deployed. Two platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) have been deployed. Two metal detectors have also been erected, he added.

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