Karwar: The fate of five candidates contesting the Legislative Council election from local bodies constituency in the district were locked in the ballot boxes on Friday. The voting was held peacefully at all the polling booths.

As scheduled, the voting began at 8:00 am and ended at 4:00 pm. By the end of the voting process, the district recorded 99.73 polling percentage. 

Out of 2,915 voters, 2,907 people cast their votes at 238 polling booths across the district. Of the total voters who exercised their franchise, 1,378 were men and 1,529 were women. This time, women outnumbered men in exercising their right to vote.

However, voters did not go to the polling booths to cast their votes even till the afternoon. The staff waiting for the voters was a common scene at most of the booths in the district. The 16.85 poll percentage recorded at 10:00 am increased to 78.93% by 2:00 pm and by 4:00 pm, it was 99.73%.

Kumta, Honnavar, Mundgod, Bhatkal, and Yellapur taluks reported less than 100% voter turnout.

GP member dies

Meanwhile, Laxman Shivaray Mane (63), gram panchayat member of Moorkhwad village in Haliyal taluk, died of heart attack after returning home post voting in the Council polls.

Candidates

The candidates in the poll fray were Ganpathi Ulvekar from BJP, Bhimanna Naik from Congress, Somashekhar Gowda from Raitha Bharat Paksha, and Dattatreya Naik and Ishwar Gowda (Independents).

BJP candidate Ganpathi Ulvekar accompanied by party workers performed special puja at Ganapathi temple in Karwar on Friday morning. Later, he visited the polling stations at Chittakula, Majali, and other villages.

Voters

MLA Roopali Naik cast her vote at the polling station in the premises of Karwar City Municipal Council (CMC). CMC president Nitin Pikale, vice-president Prakash Naik, and BJP party workers also exercised their franchise along with the MLA.

Speaking to media persons after casting her vote, MLA Naik said, party candidate Ulvekar was aware of people’s problems. He has experience of working as a CMC member and president two times each. People of the region appreicate the projects and works done by both the union and state governments for the welfare of people. Hence, they would support Ulvekar in the polls.

Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar cast his vote at a polling booth set up at the town panchayat in Yellapur. His supporters were also present.

‘Council is a temple’

Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde-Kageri who cast his vote in Sirsi stated that those involved in the process of legislative council polls should introspect the way the election was conducted while referring to the conduct of the polls on money power.

He said, Legislative Council is like a temple in the democratic system. Those entering this temple will be having greater responsibilities and respect. The elected members should not tarnish their image during their tenure as MLCs.

“To be honest and transparent, those involved in the poll process should introspect themselves and strive for reforming the system. There is also a need for holding healthy discussions in this regard,” he opined.

High court order to vote

Lakshmi Gonda, a gram panchayat member of Bargi in Kumta taluk, exercised her franchise after getting an order from the High Court, as her name was missing from the electoral roll.

No candidate could vote here

Interestingly, none of the five candidates contesting the polls in Uttara Kannada district had the right to vote as they are not representatives of any local bodies including gram panchayats.