Section 144 till May 16 midnight: DC Shashikant Senthil
Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner Shashikant Senthil has said that due to the Dakshina Kannada district being a communally sensitive place, Section 144 will be in force in the district during counting from 14 May midnight to 12 am of 16 May.
Addressing a press conference, he thanked voters and staff for assisting in peaceful voting. While the prohibition orders will be in force; gathering illegally, celebrating victory, taking out processions in the district including at counting center would wholly be prohibited.
Any misconduct around the counting center will not be entertained. The public must co-operate with the district administration in this regard. Alcohol selling will be prohibited from 6 pm of May 14th to noon on May 14th.
Complete results expected within 2 pm
"Counting will begin at 8 am On May 15 at various rooms of Mahatma Gandhi Centenary High School and PU College, Bondel. The counting process will take place in phase vise, and the overall result is expected to be announced within 2 pm," the Deputy Commissioner said.
Initially, postal ballots will be counted. All postal ballots that will be received on May 15th within 8 am will be counted. EVM votes will be counted after 30 minutes from the beginning of the counting process.
Mobile, iPad, Laptop forbidden
"As per the Election Commission's orders, a three-layer security system has been set up within 100 m of the security rooms where EVMs / VV Patts are placed. All the persons entering the counting centers are thoroughly frisked before being allowed. No person is allowed to enter without the valid pass issued by DEO. The outer zone will be a traffic-free area, and parking vehicles within the 100 meters from counting centers are restricted. Electronic devices like mobile phone, iPad, laptop, audio-video devices are restricted," Mr. Senthil informed.
Traffic diversion
Police Commissioner Vipul Kumar said that some diversions have been made to the traffic movement near Bondel MJC education institute in the wake of counting.
“Vehicular movement and parking on both sides of the road are completely prohibited from the Bondel junction to Ishwarakatte junction. Two RAF units, 6 KSRP, 6 CAR and 100 mobile patrols have been deployed in the city,” Kumar said.
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MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
