Mysore/Mysuru: In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Urban Constituencies in Mysuru district are gearing up to boost voter participation, especially in areas like Chamundeshwari, Narasimharaja and Krishnaraja Assembly segments, which saw low voter turnout in the last election.

During a review meeting on election progress held at the Devaraj Urs Hall in the Zilla Panchayat office premises, concerns were raised about historically low voter turnouts in these regions.

P.S. Vastrad, the State Election Commission’s SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Programme) Nodal Officer, stressed the importance of enhancing voter engagement.

He called for intensified SVEEP activities to address deficiencies and analyse previous low voter turnout locations. Officers and local election officials were urged to submit comprehensive reports within 10 days, outlining strategies to encourage greater voter involvement.

Efforts to improve voter accessibility include promoting the Election Commission’s toll-free number 1950 and raising awareness about voter assistance helplines. Additionally, the use of the Voter Helpline App to access candidate information and understand the electoral process was encouraged.

To ensure better representation of marginalised voters, including persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, leprosy survivors, and gender minorities, Vastrad called for increased enrollment in voter lists. He emphasised the importance of citizens aged 18 completing voter registration and those listed on the voter rolls exercising their right to vote.

Furthermore, he suggested that individuals aged 17, who will turn 18 by the end of the year, can register themselves four times a year to join the voter rolls, thereby increasing female voter participation.

Vastrad highlighted the availability of candidate profiles, EVM details and information on how the Election Commission operates for public access. He stressed the need for awareness campaigns, including the dissemination of election promotion and patriotic songs, to encourage everyone’s participation in the voting process.

The meeting was attended by Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Ashaad-Ur-Rehman Shariff, ZP Deputy Secretary Krishnam Raju, Master Trainer Shantha, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Department Suresh, and Election Shirastedar Suresh.

As urban areas in Mysuru district strive to increase voter turnout, concerted efforts are underway to ensure a robust democratic exercise in the upcoming elections.

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Mysuru: The local Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and Congress units held a joint press conference in city this morning to present a united face to its opposition and appealed to its warring workers to set aside their differences, piled up over decades of fierce fighting and work with each other for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The two parties are scrambling to pacify its disgruntled workers who have publicly come out to express their unwillingness to work with each other, highlighting the disconnect between State-level leadership and ground realities.

Under compulsion to put up a united front in the face of skirmishes between party workers at the ground-level, leaders of alliance partners came together to make it clear that they will not only fight the Parliamentary elections as allies but will also campaign jointly for all seats.

Their joint campaign for Mysuru-Kodagu and Mandya Lok Sabha constituencies will begin on Apr.9 with JD(S) Supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddharamaiah addressing rallies on the same day.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Mysuru and K.R. Nagar on Apr.13 and this, according to coalition partners, will provide a boost to the party prospects.

In a clear message to workers at the joint press conference, leaders said all differences need to be set aside to ensure the defeat of the BJP in Karnataka. This is the first time the two parties have made an effort locally to present a picture of unity. Both Congress and JD(S) insiders said that the press conference was the result of high commands insisting on a symbolic show of unity amid trouble over seat-sharing.

Those present at the press conference were JD(S) State President and Hunsur MLA A.H. Vishwanath, Mysuru District Minister and Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda, Kodagu District Minister and K.R. Nagar MLA S.R. Mahesh, Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait, Varuna MLA Dr. Yathindra Siddharamaiah, Periyapatna MLA K. Mahadev, T. Narasipur MLA Ashwin Kumar, H.D. Kote MLA Anil Chikkamadu, MLCs Marithibbegowda and R. Dharmasena, Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat coalition candidate C.H. Vijayashankar, Chamarajanagar Coalition candidate and sitting MP R. Dhruvanarayan, City Congress President R. Murthy, District President Dr. B.J. Vijayakumar, KPCC Women’s Wing President and AICCI member Dr. Pushpa Amarnath, former Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, City JD(S) President K.T. Cheluvegowda and others.

“Whatever differences exist, they must be overlooked with the single intention of defeating the BJP. Everybody must work together. There are some small issues but it is not impossible to solve them. Deve Gowda and Siddharamaiah are capable of handling them,” A.H. Vishwanath said. The press conference was an attempt to tell the workers as well as the public that both parties were working together to solve the problems.

Addressing the media, G.T. Devegowda said that both parties will put up a united front even in contentious seats like Mysuru-Kodagu and Mandya where ground-level leaders are up in arms against the State coalition.  

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Cash, liquor worth over Rs. 1.24 crore seized in Mysuru

Mysuru: Even as political parties are indulging in hectic parleys to zero-in on candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections and even before prominent candidates filing their nomination papers, authorities responsible for conducting free and  fair elections have tightened the grip on unaccounted cash, liquor and freebies.

Election Expenditure Monitoring has been intensified with Static Surveillance Teams and Flying Squads keeping a close watch on check-posts across Mysuru district for violations of Model Code of Conduct. Also, with the election expenditure limit being Rs.70 lakh per candidate, all potentials are being watched for their election spend.

Over 30 Flying Squads have been deployed across the district with over 31 Static Surveillance Teams for enforcing the poll code which came into effect from Mar. 10, soon after the poll dates were announced. Video Surveillance Teams (VSTs) have been deployed to monitor election-related activities and 33 of them have been deployed in Mysuru. 13 Excise Teams have also been deployed.

In a communication to the media this morning, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhiram G. Sankar, who is also the District Election Officer and Returning Officer said that as on 6 am today, total cash seized was Rs. 6,79,300, 20,242.67 litres of liquor worth Rs. 1,07,40,380 have been seized along with 31 vehicles (3 cars, 26 two-wheelers and 2 three-wheelers) worth Rs. 16.1 lakh.

The DC said 223 FIRs had been lodged for violation of Excise Laws and 17 FIRs in connection with Police cases. One FIR with regard to election expenditure case.

Gavadagere cash seizure: Cracking down on illegal transportation of cash, election staff deployed at a check-post in Gavadagere near Hunsur has seized unaccounted cash of Rs. 3.54 lakh yesterday. During a routine inspection of vehicles passing through the check-post, the Officers came across the cash without valid documents and records. It was immediately confiscated. Further investigation has been taken up by respective authorities.

Police propose externment of 31 people

The Mysuru District Police have recommended the externment of persons involved in various crimes in the past. As many as 31 people had been recommended for externment in Mysuru district as a measure ahead of the elections.

These persons had been involved in various cases in the district and the proposal for their externment had been submitted to the DC who is also the Returning Officer, a press release from the Superintendent of Police, Mysuru, said.

The Deputy Commissioner subsequently issued notices to these persons and summoned them to appear before him for a hearing here on Mar. 18. The next hearing has been fixed for Mar. 30.

The city Police are keeping a close watch over notorious rowdy-sheeters and those named under the Goonda Act, besides initiating preventive action against them. The Police officials will also keep a watch over those named in election-related cases filed during the last Assembly polls.

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Mysuru:  Claiming that there was no guarantee of JD(S)-Congress workers getting united in the wake of seat-sharing pact between the two parties in the State,  Chamaraja BJP MLA L. Nagendra has said that this situation was certainly going to help the BJP in the LS polls.

Addressing a meeting of party workers from MCC Ward Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 20 at a private hotel here on Wednesday, Nagendra alleged that the JD(S)-Congress have aligned only for the sake of power and JD(S) and Congress workers were fighting each other in their strongholds.

Maintaining that the Congress workers in Mandya will not support JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the MLA said that there were many confusions in the Coalition Government and this will be very much advantageous to the BJP.

Listing out the achievements of MP Pratap Simha and himself as a sitting MLA and former MUDA Chairman, Nagendra said that the achievements of the Narendra Modi Government will help the BJP in the LS polls.

Stating that the BJP will win more than 300 LS seats this time, Nagendra expressed confidence that BJP candidate will secure more than one lakh votes in Chamaraja Assembly  segment alone.

Pointing out Booth Committees will be further strengthened in the run-up to the polls, Nagendra maintained that party workers were like brothers and they were toiling hard day and night to ensure BJP victory in the LS polls.

Corporator M.U. Subbaiah, leaders Mahadevappa, Jayappa, Vaneesh and others were present during the meeting.

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• H.D. Deve Gowda proposes Sumalatha’s candidacy from Mysuru-Kodagu instead of Mandya
• D.K. Shivakumar given responsibility of convincing Sumalatha to make things easy for Nikhil

Bengaluru: For the family of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda that has introduced Nikhil Kumaraswamy into active politics from Mandya LS seat, Sumalatha has become a thorn in the flesh.

Indications of Mandya electorate rallying behind Sumalatha due to sympathy wave caused by the demise of her hugely popular husband, Ambarish has given sleepless nights to the family and Mandya JD(S) leaders and elected representatives who have been given the responsibility of ensuring Nikhil’s victory.

And to control the situation in Mandya, Deve Gowda is said to have suggested to the Congress high command to field Sumalatha from Mysuru-Kodagu seat. The JD(S) is said to have told Congress that caste combination of Vokkaliga-Kuruba-minority and Dalits will work in favour of Sumalatha while no other Congress candidate could garner such support and consolidate votes in their favour.

But Congress Legislature Party leader Siddharamaiah, who managed to retain Mysuru with the party, has suggested former MP C.H. Vijayashankar’s name as the candidate and Siddharamaiah is opposed to Sumalatha’s candidature from Mysuru.

Deve Gowda and in-charge of Congress party affairs in the State, K.C. Venugopal, held a meeting to put an end to this imbroglio. They have come out with a solution which they feel will work. They have decided to issue a ticket to Sumalatha to contest from Mysuru.

Sources said that Minister D.K. Shivakumar has been assigned by the Congress high command to hold talks with Sumalatha to convince her to move to Mysuru. The party is also said to be considering fielding her from Bengaluru South where it is finding no takers.

Siddharamaiah is, however, blocking Sumalatha’s candidature from Mysuru due to his rivalry with Ambarish in the past as Siddharamaiah, when he held power, had dropped Ambarish from his Cabinet. Siddharamaiah wants Vijayashankar to contest and the latter is confident of winning Mysuru-Kodagu as he had become the MP twice. In all probability, Mandya is likely to witness a straight fight between Nikhil and Sumalatha if the latter decides to contest as an Independent. BJP is unlikely to field its candidate and could throw its weight behind Sumalatha.

BJP hopes to consolidate votes in favour of Sumalatha to shatter Kumaraswamy’s plans to send his son Nikhil to LS. Also, it is an open secret that Mandya Congress leaders headed by former Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy are backing Sumalatha. Cheluvarayaswamy was in JD(S) earlier and he is Kumaraswamy’s rival now.

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• Preparations in full swing to set up static check-posts
• Dist. Admn. takes back Govt. vehicles given to netas

Mysuru: The District Administration has made elaborate preparations for strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections across the District.

The preparations include setting up of static check-posts at all entry/ exit points of the city and other strategic locations including 12 State Highways connecting the district. These check-posts will prevent illegal transportation of cash and electronic gadgets to woo voters. Besides, Static Surveillance Squads and Flying Squads have been formed to prevent any violation of the code.

German-style tents will be installed at check-posts near K.R. Mills on Bengaluru-Mysuru Road, near Sunanda Factory on KRS Road, MMC Factory on Hunsur Road, near Bogadi Road signal, near Srirampura on H.D. Kote Road signal and as well as on the road connecting Nanjangud, Bannur, Mahadevapura and other junctions.

The District Administration will provide all basic facilities round- the-clock at the check-posts. Local Police will assist the poll duty officials during checks.

It is mandatory to seek permission from the District Administration for transporting cash in excess of Rs.50,000. Though permission is not necessary for conducting weddings and religious programmes, organisers should take measures to ensure the events are not misused for political benefits.

The District Administration has warned that those found violating the Poll Code of Conduct will be strictly dealt with.

Posters removed

A team of officials from MCC, MUDA and District Administration have already swung into action to clear graffiti, posters, banners, flags and other political publicity materials across the city.

Officials have removed such publicity materials put up by political parties highlighting their Governments’ achievements and programmes near CADA Office, KSRTC Bus Stand, Railway Station, various junctions and Circles. The drive started soon after poll schedule announcement on Sunday evening.

Government advertisements on welfare and other schemes with pictures of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister were brought down.

Instructions have been given to officials to cover the pictures of Indira Gandhi in all Indira Canteens across the city and district.          

Vehicles taken back

The District Administration has taken back all the 12 vehicles it had provided to political Heads of various Boards and Corporations including the Mysuru-Kodagu MP.

Protocol Officers of the district administration have collected the details of fuel records, drivers’ phone numbers, meter reading records, condition of the vehicles and other information while taking back the vehicles.

Media Centre at DC Office

The District Administration has also made preparations to set up the Media Centre in the Assistant Commissioner’s Court Hall on the first floor of DC’s Office. The Centre will monitor political speeches, spread of fake news and provocative statements by various political parties across the District.

In the last Assembly polls, this Centre was set up at Vartha Bhavan but this time it has been shifted to DC’s Office to closely monitor the developments during the election period.

Preparations are on to install around 15 TV sets in the Centre to monitor the poll-related activities and to check the contents telecast in all the TV channels. Assistant Director of Information Raju will head this Media Centre.

Officials and personnel in the Media Centre will keep a close watch on all political parties and their speeches.

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Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar, who is also the District Electoral Officer and Returning Officer, has asked all arms owners in Mysuru-Kodagu Parliamentary Constituency to surrender their weapons to the Police as the Model Code of Conduct for the General Elections has come into effect.

Speaking to newsmen here on Monday, he said that gun licence-holders are mandated to deposit their guns in their jurisdictional Police Stations before the elections. The weapons  owner has to visit the Police Station along with the weapon and its licence. Once it is handed over to the Police, the weapon will be kept in the Police Department Armoury and will be returned to the respective owners after the elections.

The DC said election Code of Conduct mandates arms licence holders to deposit their weapons at the Police Station and stringent action will be taken against gun owners who fail to do so.

The Deputy Commissioner also said that anti-social elements and rowdy-sheeters have already been warned not to violate the law and that all political parties have been informed not to advertise their achievements unless they meet the terms and conditions set-forth by the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, City Police Commissioner K.T. Balakrishna, speaking to SOM this morning, said that those seeking exemptions from depositing their weapons such as armed bank security guards, security guards deputed in vans carrying cash to ATMs, Jamma land owners etc., should first give an application seeking exemption and the Committee consisting of Superintendent of Police, City Police Commissioner and other officials will deliberate and decide.

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Congress shortlists four candidates

Bengaluru:  With the coalition partners in the State Government — JD(S) and Congress, yet to finalise seat sharing for the Lok Sabha (LS) polls, CLP leader and former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has strongly opposed leaving the Mysuru-Kodagu seat to the JD(S).

At the Congress party Screening Committee meeting held here yesterday, Siddharamaiah insisted that the Congress keep the Mysuru seat for itself.

Pointing out that the JD(S) has never won the Mysuru LS seat, Siddharamaiah is said to have reminded the Congress leaders that the JS(S) failed to win the seat when it was in power in the State, with himself being the Deputy CM then. In such a situation, the Congress must not leave the seat to the JD(S), Siddharamaiah is said to have told the party leadership.

Congress shortlists four candidates

Meanwhile, the Congress, which is hoping to get the Mysuru-Kodagu seat for itself, is said to have shortlisted the names of four candidates for the seat.

The shortlisted candidates are former MP C.H. Vijayashankar, who joined the Congress ahead of last year’s Assembly polls, Mysuru District Congress President Dr.B.J. Vijaykumar, Congress Spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa  and former AICC Secretary Sooraj Hegde.

A Committee, which included KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao, former CM Siddharamaiah, Working President Eshwar Khandre, Deputy CM Dr.G. Parameshwara and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and D.K. Shivakumar is said to have shortlisted the four candidates out of 12 ticket aspirants.

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