Today is the D-Day in the poll-bound Karnataka. All the voters are set to vote you’re their desired candidate, despite the many controversies, frauds and raids conducted.
But let’s get to know the finer details of today’s polling.
Karnataka is all set to elect a new assembly between the main triangle candidates.
The ruling Congress and the BJP are the main contenders for power, while former prime minister HD Deve Gowda’s JD(S) is likely to play the kingmaker, according to most surveys and opinion polls.
There are more than 4.98 crore voters who are eligible to exercise their franchise to choose their representatives from a field of little over 2,600 candidates. Men account for over 2.52 crore voters, women around 2.44 crore, while there are 4,552 transgender electors.
Election office sources said over 55,600 polling stations have been set up, and there would be some auxiliary booths too.
Over 3.5 lakh personnel will be on duty to ensure a free and fair poll. Some polling stations in tribal areas will have ethnic look, sources said, adding government employees with disabilities will be on duty at select polling stations for the first time.
It is for the first time that people would be able to know about the queue status at polling stations with a large number of voters through a mobile app, sources said.
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No party in Karnataka has won a second successive term in office since 1985 when the Janata Dal under Ramakrishna Hegde had retained power.
The Congress party is trying to maintain its hold in the only large state it rules besides Punjab. Whereas BJP is trying to enter South India through today’s elections.
The BJP had ruled the state between 2008 and 2013, the only time it did so, but its tenure was marred by intraparty feuds and allegations of corruption. One of its three chief ministers and its current chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa were in jail over corruption charges.
JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy has conceded it was a “battle for survival” for his party which has been out of power for a decade now.
The Congress is, however, confident of breaking the jinx, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the party will create history.
“I am often told history is against me as no sitting govt in Karnataka has been re-elected in a long time. But we are here to create history and not to obey it,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.
The Congress’ main challenger BJP has spared no effort to ensure that history is repeated.
Though the BJP launched its campaign, calling it “mission 150 (seats)”, Shah told a press conference yesterday the party will win over 130 constituencies.
READ ALSO: Karnataka elections: other candidates besides Siddaramaiah & Yeddyurappa
FIRST TIME VOTERS
If you are a first-time voter or uncertain about which assembly constituency you belong to or if you have not yet received a voter card despite registering, here is what you can do.
Find your Assembly Constituency
You don’t have to worry, as long as you have your EPIC (Election Photo Identity) number or Voter ID number, or even your address. You can visit the website of the Chief Election Officer Karnataka and find your Assembly constituency.
How to find your polling booth?
To know your Assembly Constituency, polling station address and other details, you can send an SMS containing your EPIC (Voter ID) card Number to +91 9731979899 in this format:
KAEPIC <space> ID Card No.
Example: KAEPICMNO1768201
If you have registered to vote this year and don’t have your voter’s ID yet or if you have lost your voter ID card, you can still vote as long as your name appears in the electoral rolls.
READ ALSO: RAID AHEAD OF KARNATAKA POLLS; BREAKING NEWS
What if you do not have a Voter ID?
If you do not have a Voter ID, you will have to carry a valid ID card with you to the polling booth. The alternative photo ID cards accepted by the Election Commission are:
Passport
Driver’s licence
PAN Card
Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt PSUs/Public Limited Companies
Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office
Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR
MNREGA Job Card
Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour
Pension document with photograph
Authenticated Photo Voter Slip issued by the election commission
Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs
Aadhaar Card
In case you have a voter’s ID, but it is not possible to establish you photo ID, then you will have to produce any one of the acceptable IDs mentioned above.
The Election Commission has said that all overseas voters must furnish a copy of their passports.
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Who are the candidates in my constituency?
It is also important to know who the contestants are for your constituency.
If you want to know the names of the candidates contesting from your constituency and the parties they represent, find the database of all candidates according to constituency here.
The works carried out by MLAs, MLA fund utilization and other details about MLAs is also available in the above mentioned link.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a non-profit organization has also put up the details of the candidates on its My Neta website, where the information is accessible.
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