Karnataka Polls 2023: Polling Commences for Eight Assembly Constituencies in DK District
Mangaluru: Polling commenced today for the State Assembly general elections across eight assembly constituencies in the district. From the early morning hours, voters were observed forming queues outside several polling booths. To ensure the smooth conduct of polling, over 4,500 police and paramilitary officers have been deployed in the district.
A total of 17,81,389 individuals have registered to exercise their voting rights in the district, including 9,10,314 females, 8,70,991males, and 84 individuals who identify as transgender. The district has set up 1,860 polling booths, with 1,184 located in rural areas and 676 in urban and semi-urban areas.
ALSO READ: Voting begins for high-stakes Karnataka Assembly elections
For enhanced transparency, webcasting arrangements have been made in 939 polling booths as per the Election Commission's instructions. Additionally, micro observers have been assigned to 164 polling booths, while the remaining booths have been assigned to Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMFs) for security.
The district administration has meticulously organized all necessary arrangements to ensure peaceful polling. Deputy Commissioner Ravikumar M R, who also serves as the district election officer, has stated that voting will continue until 6 pm.
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Bengal: On way to PM's rally, 3 mowed down by train amid dense fog
Kolkata (PTI): Three persons died and three others were injured after being hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday, while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Taherpur in West Bengal's Nadia district, a senior official said.
The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said.
Modi, whose helicopter could not land at Taherpur due to dense fog and low visibility, condoled the death of the “BJP workers” in his virtual address from Kolkata airport.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to the rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi said.
The Eastern Railway official told PTI that the incident occurred in the morning when these people, who were travelling by a bus, had stopped the vehicle and walked to the railway tracks to answer nature's call.
"While three persons died on the spot, two others with injuries were admitted to a local hospital," he said.
Another person with minor injuries was released after having been administered first aid, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (74), Shaktipada Sutradhar (55) and Gopinath Das (38).
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, alleged that the BJP ignored the incident and went ahead with the rally.
"Terrible tragedy hushed up at altar of @narendramodi ego. @BJP4India supporters brought from far Murshidabad for PM rally in Ranaghat today," she said in a post on X.
"4 went to answer nature's call and were killed by 31814 down local train near Taherpur. BJP ignored, blacked out & went ahead with rally," Moitra claimed.
Reacting to her remarks, the West Bengal BJP, in a post on X, asserted that the TMC "has always been adept at milking tragedies", and was being "disrespectful to the unfortunate victims of this tragedy".
The TMC alleged that BJP leaders have not shown "neither concern nor compassion" over the mishap.
"The loss of three lives in Taherpur should have united everyone in grief. But @BJP4India leaders showed neither concern nor compassion," it said in another post on X.
"At this painful moment, Smt @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc put humanity above party lines and stood beside the families of the deceased," the party said.
TMC’s on-ground leaders promptly reached out to the grieving family members, ensuring them of help and assistance, it said.
"While Delhi’s rulers chase Bengal with arrogance, our leadership chose empathy. This is the difference between politics of power and politics of people!" the TMC added.
