Single-phase assembly poll in Karnataka

Bengaluru: According to official sources, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the schedule of events for the upcoming state assembly poll in the first week of March. Despite the state government’s request to the contrary, the poll will be conducted in a single phase.

On Tuesday, the ECI has made it clear during an interactions with various political parties that decision regarding the conduction of elections in single phase is already taken and there is no room for any changes or suggestions. The dates of announcing the calendar of events is postponed to march from February 25th.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, Umesh Sinha clarified Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as well as VV pats will be used in the election poll. At the end a voter will be allowed to verify which candidate he has voted for.

The expenditure limit for each candidate had been raised to Rs.28 lakh from Rs.7.5 lakh, as said by the Deputy Election Commission Director (Expenditure), Dilip Sharma. A mobile app has been introduced to help the voters confirm if their names are present in the voter’s list and also to find their constituency and booth name. An e-platform for grievance redress is also prepared by the ECI.

Meanwhile, the Congress and BJP are said to have quarrelled during the meeting regarding the alleged introduction of lakhs of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, in the voters’ list.