Seers take lead in discharging voting right

Bangalore, May 10 (UNI) Three well-known seers today showed the way for those who treat the right to vote rather lightly by exercising their franchise soon after the polling began for the first phase of the Karnataka Assembly elections today.

The 101-year-old Sri Shivakumaraswamy of Siddaganga Mutt of Tumkur walked into the booth in Kyatsandra without any help, showed his Voter ID card and went to the enclosure where the electronic voting machine was kept and exercised his franchise.

Similarly, Sri Desikendra Swamiji of Suttur Math and Ganapathy Sachidananda Swamiji of Avadoot Peetha, both in Mysore, went together to vote in a polling booth close to their mutts.

The two mutts are located close by on the foothills of Chamundi Hills.

x x x x x Former Minister H D Revanna, who is seeking re-election from Holenarasipura in Hassan District, moved the table on which the EVM was kept and then cast his vote.

It was later clarified it did not amount to any violation of model code. Apparently, Mr Revanna moved the table, as sunlight from the window was hitting the EVM directly.

x x x x x In Kolar District, a Gram Panchayat Bill Collector was seen canvassing allegedly on behalf of Congress in Srinivasapura in violation of Model Code of Conduct which bars government employees associating themselves with any political party.

x x x x x A polling official in one of the booths in Varuna Assembly Constituency in Mysore District, from where Deputy Chief Minister and Congress Chief Ministerial aspirant Siddaramaiah was seeking election, was removed for allegedly canvassing for the Congress.

On receiving a complaint from BJP cadre, District Election Officer Manivannan ordered his removal as well as changing the EVM.

The old EVM was sealed and kept in the safe custody.

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