Doorstep voting begins in Dakshina Kannada, 8010 voters to cast votes from home
Mangaluru: Doorstep voting commenced in Dakshina Kannada constituency for the Lok Sabha elections, with 8,010 senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) exercising their right to vote over a three-day period.
On Monday, 6,053 senior citizens and 1,957 PwD voters in Dakshina Kannada cast their votes through postal ballots. This voting method will be available across the eight Assembly constituencies in Dakshina Kannada until Wednesday, April 17. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had previously announced the provision of doorstep voting for voters aged 85 years and above, as well as for PwD voters.
In total, the constituency boasts 8,010 voters in these categories who have opted for postal ballots this election cycle. According to official figures, Bantwal Assembly constituency has 975 such voters, Belthangady has 812, Mangalore has 515, Mangalore City South has 1,401, Mangalore City North has 976, Puttur has 1,127, and Sullia constituency has 1,038 voters who have chosen to utilize the ECI's doorstep voting facility.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
