Bantwala, April 17: The voting got under way today early morning in Bantwala constituency which is a part of Mangalore parliamentary constituency. At the appointed hour of 7 AM as the doors were being opened one was able to see people standing in long queues waiting for the electoral officials to arrive and start the voting and enable them to cast their vote.
The Dakshina Kannada Congresss candidate Mr. Janardhana Poojary cast his vote early in the morning from his hometown Bantwala SVS higher Devala High School.
Mr. Ramnath Rai exercised his right to franchise in the village Kallige at the Thodambili School as also did KPCC secretary Ashwini Kumar Rai from the village Beemooda Ajjibettu school. The combined friendship of the JDS-SDPI which projected the candidate Haneef Khan voted early in the morning from Neralakatte School, the former minister Padmanabha Kottary from Golthamajalu panchayath.
RSS leader Dr. Prabhakar Bhat Kalladka voted from Kalladka higher secondary school voting booth.
Dakdhina kannadigas seemed to be in a hurry to cast their vote in the morning and go to their respective jobs even though it is a Govt. holiday today. There are many new voters mostly among boys and girls. The population of electorate in Bantwala is 2,01,433 of which men account for 1,00,588 and women account for 1,00,845.
Policemen are present in the voting booths to ensure free and fair elections.
