EC orders re-polling at one booth in Chamarajanagar LS segment in Karnataka on Apr 29
Bengaluru, Apr 27: The Election Commission said on Saturday that re-polling will be conducted at a polling station in Hanur which falls under Chamarajanagar Parlimentary Constituency in Karnataka on April 29.
In a letter addressed to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, the EC stated that on the basis of reports submitted by the Returning Officer and General Observer for Chamrajnagar Constituency and after taking all material circumstances into account, it declared that polling held at polling station number 146 under the Hanur Assembly Constituency on Friday to be void.
The letter further stated that April 29 has been fixed as the date for a fresh poll at the polling station in accordance with the Commission's instructions. The polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm.
The move comes after the Electronic Voting Machines were destroyed at the said polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district on Friday during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not in the Lok Sabha elections.
ALSO READ: Poll boycott in Chamarajnagar village: Govt officers, voter injured; booth, EVM destroyed by protest
According to the district administration, the villagers had earlier in the day decided to boycott the polls citing lack of adequate infrastructure development. However, after assurances and efforts by the local officials, polling was underway.
As per preliminary information, one of the groups wanted to vote while the other was keen to boycott, leading to clashes between them during which they destroyed EVMs, and also indulged in stone-pelting, the officials said.
RE-POLL: Election Commission of India u/s 58 (2) and A(2) of RP Act declares the poll taken on 26.04.24 at https://t.co/I6M9PA9XVH. 146 of 221 - Hanur AC of 21 - Chamrajanagar PC to be void and appoints 29.04.2024 (Monday) as date from 7 AM to 6 PM for taking fresh re-poll.
— Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka (@ceo_karnataka) April 27, 2024
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AI Express flights cancelled for 2nd consecutive day; passengers unhappy
Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode (PTI): Air India Express passengers who were promised travel to various destinations from airports in Kerala were left stranded on Thursday as their flights were unexpectedly canceled for the second day in a row.
Travelers at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kannur airports faced disappointment when flights to Gulf nations were called off at the last minute for the second consecutive day.
This sudden cancellation has sparked frustration and caused inconvenience among passengers who relied on the airline's assurance for their travel plans.
"I was assured by Air India Express yesterday that I can travel to Qatar on Thursday. But they did not keep their promise. I was told at the last moment that my flight has been cancelled again for the second consecutive day," an aggrieved passenger at Karipur airport in Kozhikode told reporters.
Another passenger, who claimed his work visa would expire today, told a TV channel at Thiruvananthapuram airport that when his flight to the Gulf region was cancelled yesterday, he was given a ticket for today.
"When I arrived here (Thiruvananthapuram airport), the airline told me that the flight was cancelled. If I do not reach my place of work by tonight, my visa will expire and I will lose my job," he said.
Another passenger at the Thiruvananthapuram airport said that AI Express asked him to take a ticket on another airline, but he was unable to do so.
"Why can't they help us get tickets on another airline? Let them charge us for that," he said.
Air India Express has issued termination letters to around 25 cabin crew members who reported sick that led to the cancellation of more than 90 flights, airline sources said on Thursday.
The Tata Group-owned airline has also given an ultimatum to the remaining cabin crew members reporting sick to join back duty by 4 pm on Thursday or face termination, they added.
Air India Express has also cancelled at least 60 flights for Thursday due to the non-availability of cabin crew, the sources said, and added that mass leaves by a section of the cabin crew have caused immense inconvenience to passengers.
