Byelection to MCC ward 15 witnesses just 46% polling

MYSURU: The inertia of city voters continued to show, this time at the bypoll to ward 15 of the Mysuru City Corporation. Some 46 per cent voters exercised their franchise during the polling on Friday, which passed off smoothly amid tight police cover. Voters like centenarian Doddanna made their way to cast their vote but 54 per cent of the voters didn’t turn up disappointing both the political activists and the officials.Eleven booths had been set up. Votes will be counted on Monday from 8am at the MCC Zonal Office 2 near Jayanagar railway gate.
Though they are all rivals, the three candidates—Komala Ramesh of the Congress, BJP’s Seema Prasad and Lakshmi Ganesh of JD(S)—were a picture of civility as they stood next to each other and sought the support of voters.
Police had beefed up security at the 11 polling stations-- five located in Jyothi Convent, four in Kuvempunagar first grade college and two at Brahmasri school premises— and extended security to the official machinery. The bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of Congress corporator Manjula Manasa as she was appointed chairperson of the Karnataka Commission for Women.
Deputy commissioner C Shikha, who is district election officer, and returning officer M J Roopa visited the booths and interacted with the polling personnel. The city police had assigned four inspectors and eight sub-inspectors along with 50 constables for security.
During the 2013 polls to the civic body, the ward had registered 45 per cent voter turnout. Former minister S A Ramdas and MLC Go Madhusudhana joined the BJP corporators and sought votes for the BJP candidate while the Congress campaign was led by MLA M K Somashekar, a close associate of the CM Siddaramaiah. Given that he represents the assembly constituency where the ward is located, the legislator took the lead in seeking support with assistance from former mayors Modamani, Pushpalatha Chikkanna and T B Chikkanna.
Mayor R Lingappa, who is from JD(S), joined the party’s city unit chief Rajanna and senior corporators and toured the booths.