Karnataka - Bangalore   

Mixed reactions to election helpline

Bangalore: There have been mixed responses to the Election Helpline number 1522121 set up by the Karnataka State Election Commission and the Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Ltd (KSBCL).

The helpline has been set up for voters to get information on the location of their polling booths.

On the first day on Monday, 850 people called the helpline by 7 p.m. Executive Director of KSBCL C. Veerabhadriah said they expected the total calls to cross 1,000 by the closing time at 8 p.m. “All the 15 helpdesks have been continuously busy since the morning,” he said.

The Hindu checked with several other callers and most said that the helpline personnel were polite but could not always provide the information.

A caller from Jeevanbima Nagar said that the person at the helpline could not give the information he wanted. Satish B. who called from Rajajinagar and M.M. Bopanna who called from Indiranagar said that they got the information about their polling booths in about six minutes. Another caller from Hebbal was put on hold for 10 minutes and had to hang up without getting the information.

While responding to these complaints, Mr. Veerabhadraiah said that voters whose names were not there on the electoral list or who had registered after April 16 cannot find information regarding their polling booth from the helpline.

He also said that the logistics for the setting up the helpline took half a day to set up and the model can be emulated in other districts of the State if the State Election Commission is interested. The helpline can be contacted on 1552121 for Bangalore Urban and 1552122 for Bangalore Rural.

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