Coastal Karnataka ready to face polls; prohibitory order in place till May 6

Individuals cannot possess any weapons and no programmes such as rallies, public meets etc can be organized without the permission of the Election Commission. Shouting out slogans, drawing caricatures or any kind of pictorial representations, gesturing, distribution of handbills and pamphlets, pasting of posters have been banned.

However, there is no objection to the door-to-door campaigning by groups of four members or less than four.

These rules are not applicable to Government programmes, on security personnels and officials deputed on election duty.

In Udupi

A total of 6,499 officials and 2,580 police have been deputed on special election duty for the May 5 polls, said Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr M T Reju and Superintendent of Police Dr M B Borelingegowda.

While 1,493 election staff will be working in Byndoor, 1,356 will be working in Kundapura, 1,282 in Udupi, 1,162 in Kaup and 1,206 in Karkala.

Meanwhile, 114 police officials, 796 police staff, 250 Home Guards, four platoons of Armed Reserve Police, 15 Central Para Military forces comprising of three platoons of BSF, three CISF, two CRPF, 2 SSB and five RPF along with 115 officials of the para military forces and 1,205 staff will be on duty.

Naxal infested booths

There are 18 naxal affected booths in Byndoor, 8 in Kundapur, and 26 in Karkala areas. As many as 26 booths in Byndoor are hyper sensitive booths, while 31 in Kundapur, 28 in Udupi and 14 in Kaup are considered in this list. Security has been beefed up at naxal infested booths.

Postal voting

A total of 4,575 postal voting cards have been distributed and 3,931 staff have cast their votes at the facilitation centres. The cards which reach the counting centre before 7 am on May 8 will be considered valid.

Mustering/de-mustering

Bhandarkar's College Kundapur, Kunibettu T A Pai EMHS, Udupi, Kaup-Udupi Brahmagiri St Cicily's School, KArkala Mini Vidhana Saudha are the mustering centres.

83 illicit liquor cases

Excise department has booked 83 cases with regard to sale of illicit liquor, in the backdrop of elections. Stock worth Rs 1.01 crore has been seized.

Counting

Counting of votes will be conducted on May 8 from 8 am at Udupi Kunjibettu T A Pai English Medium School. The voters have the right to deny vote even after inking their finger.