GULBARGA: Re-polling has been ordered in six booths in the district following incidents of booth capturing and violence during the zilla and taluk panchayat elections held here on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Anjum Parvez said the district election authorities have recommended the State Election Commission for ordering re-polling at Devalgangapur village coming under Athnur Zilla Panchayat and Devalgangapur Taluk Panchayat constituencies, at Itaga (K) village coming under Khanadal Zilla Panchayat, at Saganur village coming under Gobbur (B) Zilla Panchayat and Hasaragundigi Taluk Panchayat constituency, at Kulali village in Afzalpur taluk coming under Badadal Zilla Panchayat and Revoor B Taluk Panchayat, and at Devatkal village coming under Devatkal Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat constituencies. The re-polling in all the six places is likely to be held on Monday.

While the polling at Devalgangapur was stopped following complaints from voters and polling agents of different political parties about the identification seal put by the presiding officer on the outer side of the ballot papers was visible at the spot where the voters had to put their seal.

In the two polling booths at Itaga (K) village, the presiding officer of both the booths were severely beaten up and the ballot papers were torn allegedly by Janata Dal (S) candidate Nagendrappa Sherikar and his supporters, who also poured water into the ballot boxes. Polling was immediately suspended in both the polling booths. Mr. Parvez and police officials, who were on rounds, immediately rushed to the village and gave chase to the vehicle in which the Janata Dal (S) candidate and his supporters were travelling. However, Mr. Sherikar abandoned his vehicle and escaped into an open field. A case has been registered against him.

Suspended

Mr. Parvez said that at Kulali, Saganur and Devatkal, polling had to be suspended after miscreants disrupted the polling process and made a vain bid to capture the booth. In these booths, miscreants allegedly tore the ballot papers and poured water into the ballot boxes.

Barring these incidents and few sporadic incidents of violence and skirmishes between the supporters of rival political parties, polling was by and large peaceful. According to preliminary estimates, 62 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise. According to information available, an estimated 65 per cent polling was reported in Aland, Jewargi, and Sedam taluks. In Chincholi taluk, 62 per cent of voting was reported and in Chitapur, an estimated 58 per cent was reported. The polling details in the other five taluks of Gulbarga, Yadgir, Shahapur, Surpur, and Afsalpur were not available.

According to reports available here, residents of Allapur village and Benchanapalli in Chincholi taluk boycotted the elections protesting against the lack of basic amenities in their villages. There were no other reports of boycott of the elections from elsewhere in the district.

Minor skirmishes between the supporters of rival political parties were reported at Kini Sultan, Matigi, Sangolagi, Munnalli, and Hirolli villages of Aland taluk, Ingalgi of Chitapur taluk, and Naganur and Kiradalli of Surpur taluk. Timely intervention by the police prevented the disruption of polls in these places.

The counting of the votes of the 65 zilla and 236 raluk panchayat seats will be taken up on Tuesday and the results are likely to be announced on the same day.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail