EC seeks to boost poll turnout in Karnataka by 10%

BANGALORE: Election Commission has put in place an aggressive campaign seeking to boost the voter turnout in Karnataka by 10 per cent in the May 5 Assembly polls compared top 2008 elections.

Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said students, NGOs and civil society groups have been involved to spread the message of the importance of taking part in the poll process. "We will intensify (our efforts)".

In addition to campaign by "youth icons" and in media, students are being asked to persuade their parents to cast ballot. The idea is to take the poll percentage to "healthy levels".

In the 2008 assembly elections, the average poll percentage in the State was around 65. Officials said the figure for Bangalore, which account for 28 of the total 224 Assembly segments in the State, is a low 47.3 per cent.

"The target is to take it to 75 per cent (from 65 per cent last time around)", Jha said, adding, Gujarat has achieved a 10 per cent increase in poll percentage in the last elections compared to the previous one.

Authorities, meanwhile, made a number of cash seizures at several places in the state, including three in Ramanagara district (more than Rs 22 lakh) and in Bidar (Rs 9.3 lakh).

Total unaccounted cash seized since the model code of conduct came into being in the state has risen to Rs 10.8 crore. In addition, articles worth Rs 1.18 crore had also been seized.

The EC is holding a meeting in northern district headquarters town of Hubli on April 28 to review the poll preparedness in the Belgaum division, Jha said.