The ‘Namma Nade Matha Katte Kade’ (our walk towards polling booth) campaign, launched by the SVEEP committee of Dakshina Kannada, has evoked a good response, with people from across political lines joining hands to increase voter turnout in the district.
Activities such as administering oaths, flag hoisting, cultural programmes, planting saplings near booths, and cleanliness drives near polling stations were held as part of the campaign across the district. Furthermore, selfie campaigns and street plays are also being organized near booths to attract young voters. In Bantwal taluk, campaigns were held in 249 polling stations simultaneously on Sunday, and similar campaigns will be held in all other taluks in the next few days.
Meanwhile, the SVEEP committee has been giving special emphasis to polling stations that recorded low voter turnout in the 2023 assembly election. For instance, booths number 151 and 152 in Panemangaluru recorded very low polling.
Bantwal assembly constituency assistant returning officer Uday Kumar Shetty said the ECI has been holding various programmes as part of the campaigns with the aim to ensure 100% polling in all booths. “Voters should exercise their franchise without falling prey to enticements. The awareness campaigns of the ECI will help in holding a free and fair election,” he said.
Bantwal taluk panchayat executive officer Rahul Kambale said voting is the primary responsibility of every citizen to elect the right candidate. “The progress of the nation is possible only when everyone votes for an eligible candidate without fail,” he said.
Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat CEO Anandh K said, “We are putting in our best efforts over the past month to raise awareness and encourage voter turnout. The BLOs are also going from household to household to distribute voter information slips. “The voters are aware of where the polling station is and what the polling date is.”
