Stage set for final polling

All arrangements for the peaceful polling in 1,173 polling stations spread across seven constituencies have been made with 8,373 polling officials plus over a dozen special observers engaged in the process.

Security has been beefed up at all polling stations with special attention on those identified as sensitive areas. Besides two armed policemen guarding each booth there will be mobile squads of Central Paramilitary Force and state police equipped with wireless sets and arms.

Thanks to strict enforcement of model code of conduct and too many restrictions on the mode of campaigning this year's election was sans usual banners, buntings, graffiti and loud announcements.

The delimitation of constituencies has upset the calculations of several candidates and political parties. The result: several new faces will enter the assembly from the district.

There are four former ministers - P C Siddanagoudar (Kundagol), K N Gaddi (Navalgund), Jabbarkhan Honnalli (Hubli-Dharwad West), Jagadeesh Shettar (Hubli-Dharwad Central) - five former MLAs Vinay Kulkarni, S R Ambadagatti, C S Shivalli, S I Chikkanagoudar, Chandrakant Bellad and MLC Savitri Gundi in the fray.

While BJP, BSP and Suvarna Yuga have fielded one woman candidate each, there are two other women as independents. In all there are 33 independents in the contest.

Money has changed hands despite strict vigil by the election officials in the district. Kalghatagi constituency attracted special attention with the entry of Bellary mine lord Santosh Lad (Congress) in the fray and kept the law enforcing agencies busy.

Twenty three cases of poll code violation have been booked and material worth Rs 8.19 lakh seized in Kalghatagi alone. Thirty vehicles belonging to Lad were also seized.

In 2004, the district had sent three candidates from BJP, three from Congress and one from Janata Dal (U) to the Assembly. After seeing both Congress and BJP having a twenty months stint each with JD(S) the voters are looking for a stable government. The EVMs will reveal the outcome on Sunday when the counting of votes takes place.