5.8K senior citizens, 1.9K PwD voters in Dakshina Kannada cast ballot through doorstep voting
Mangaluru: The doorstep voting facility provided by the Election Commission of India (ECI) was utilized by 5,878 senior citizens and 1,957 voters with more than 40 per cent physical disabilities, considered as People with Disabilities (PwD) voters, in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency this year
Citizens aged 85 years and above as well as PwD voters are provided postal ballot facility by the ECI and are permitted to vote from home this year. The election officers and staff members visited houses of voters under the two categories in Dakshina Kannada constituency from April 15 to 17, under the system.
The official figures so far show that, of the 6,053 voters aged 85 years and above who had registered their names in the constituency for the doorstep voting system, 5,878 senior citizens cast their vote through the postal ballot system. Similarly, 1,929 PwD voters, of the 1,957 who are registered, cast vote over the last three days, in Dakshina Kannada.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
