Karnataka prepares for assembly polls tomorrow

The high-voltage campaigning for the Assembly polls concluded last evening. Polling for 223 assembly segments will be held tomorrow and counting will take place on 15th of this month, i.e. Tuesday. 

The election in Jayanagar Assembly constituency has been postponed following the death of BJP candidate B N Vijay Kumar. Total 2636 candidates are in fray out of which 617 are women. BJP has fielded 223 candidates while Congress has fielded 222 candidates. JD(S) is contesting in 201 constituencies. 

More than 58000 polling booths have been set up for over five crores six lakh voters. The young voters' size has also doubled compared to the last assembly elections in the state. It was 7 lakh 22 thousand in 2013 and now 15 lakh 72 thousand young voters were added in the electoral roll.

There are 58008 polling stations set up, including 1312 auxiliary booths. The Election Commission has identified 12001 of them as critical or sensitive booths The Election Commission has deployed 585 companies of Central forces comprising of 45000 personnel for the poll duty. Over 3,50,000 polling personnel are put on poll duty in the booths. 

The voters' slips are being distributed to the



voters with the details of polling booths and room number. The Election Commission has informed that voters can use 12 different kinds of ID proofs like Aadhar, driving license, passport, PAN card, pension document with photograph among others. 

The compensation to poll personnel on death has been increased to 10 lakh rupees and in case of disability, a minimum of five lakh rupees will be provided.

Before reaching a standstill, Political parties and leaders made last ditch efforts to woo the voters. 

BJP National President Amit Shah and Congress President addressed a press conference in Bengaluru yesterday. 

Mr Shah accused Congress of adopting unfair means to rig the election. The BJP President said, there was 173 percent increase in the suicide of farmers in Karnataka and law and order situation has taken a nose dive. Mr Shah alleged that 24 BJP and RSS workers were murdered in the state. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, his party fought a very good campaign, it stood together, raised fundamental issues and laid down a vision for the development of Karnataka.