BANGALORE, April 28, 2009: The public campaigning by candidates and political parties ended on Tuesday evening for the second phase of polling to be held on April 30 in 11 Lok Sabha constituencies of Karnataka.

There are 156 candidates in the fray in 11 constituencies. The Congress and BJP have fielded candidates in all 11 constituencies, Janata Dal (S) in six constituencies, CPI (Udupi-Chikmagalur) and CPM (DK) in one constituency each.

Polling would decide the fate of prominent candidates such as former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) National President H.D Deve Gowda (Hassan), former Union Minister B. Janardhana Poojary (Dakshina Kannada), former Chief Minister S. Bangrappa (Shimoga), BJP State unit President D.V. Sadananda Gowda (Udupi-Chikmagalur), and Union Minister of State M.H. Ambareesh (Mandya).

Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer M. N. Vidyashankar on Tuesday held a meeting Election Commissioner Qureshi and reviewed the poll preparedness for the second phase of polling.

The election officials have asked non-voting political functionaries to leave the constituencies as the campaign ended at 5 pm on Tuesday. The restriction would apply to candidates and election agents if they are not voters of constituencies. Only door-to door campaign would be allowed on Wednesday by candidates.

The polling will be held from 7 am to 5 pm in 18,452 polling stations, including 755 auxiliary, in 11 constituencies and they are Bagalkot, Haveri, Dharwad, Davangere, Shimoga, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar (SC). Over 1.55 crore, including 76.79 lakh women, voters are eligible to exercise their franchise on Thursday.

In this phase, highest number candidates are contesting in the Davangere constituency (28) and the lowest in Udupi-Chikmagalur (9). With this phase, elections to all 28 constituencies will come to an end in Karnataka. The first phase of election was held on April 23 in 17 constituencies.

The district authorities of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikmangalur constituencies have decided to deploy additional security personnel to ensure peaceful polling in booths fall under the naxal infested areas in these districts.

The mustering work involving transportation of materials, including electronic voting machines, will be done on Wednesday.

The returning officers, and observers, micro-observers and the police have beefed up vigil against election malpractices.

About 75 per cent of voting had taken place in Karnataka during the second phase in 2004 parliamentary elections.

Elections results would be announced on May 16, 2009.

Flinging footwear at politicians unfortunate: EC

Bangalore: Terming the incidents of flinging shoes at political party leaders as 'most unfortunate', Election Commission (EC) member S Y Quereshi today expressed concern over it.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said this phenomena seems to have come to stay and someting should be done to stop such things.

It may be recalled that a series of footwear flinging incidents have been reported across the country, with the victims including Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP leader L K Advani.

An incident of using a slipper as a missile against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was reported at a public meeting in Channarayapatna in Hassan district, today.

EC for stringent action against IAS officer

The Election Commission (EC) has taken serious note of an IAS officer from Karnataka, who was allegedly involved in canvassing for a political party, EC member S Y Quereshi said today. Speaking to newspersons here, Mr Quereshi, who had reviewed the preparations for the third phase of elections in Karnataka, said the EC had booked three cases against Mr G Nandakumar, the IAS officer.

While one case was booked under the Representation of the People Act, two cases were filed under IPC. The issue also came up for discussion during review with the Karnataka Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and IG and DG of Police.

He said Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao had informed that a departmental inquiry into the alleged role of the said officer had been ordered and on the basis of the inquiry report, EC would take further action.

Mr Quereshi said the EC had received a complaint against former prime minister H D Deve Gowda from a party, alleging that the JD(S) president had distributed cash to lure voters. "A CD was submitted to the EC in this connection and the full bench of the EC would sit together shortly and deliver its verdict," he said.

He said representatives of various parties, who met him, have complained that stringent enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct had contributed to poor turnout of voters.

Referring to the poor turnout in the first phase of elections in Karnataka, where 54.5 per cent polling was recorded, he said the low turnout might be the result of frequent elections, high temperature and marriage season.

Expressing satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the first phase of elections in Karnataka, he exuded confidence that the second and final phase of elections, slated to be held on April 30, would also go smoothly.

Congress alone can build strong India: Kharge

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge today said the century-old party was the only alternative for the people to build a strong nation while seeking votes for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka on April 30.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by Mysore District Journalists Association here, he said the country had witnessed several changes and benefited all sections of people during the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government tenure at Centre. The Congress was contesting the Lok Sabha poll, based on the performance of its Government in the last five years, he added.

Mr Kharge said Congress-wave was prevailing in the State and the party would regain its supremacy.

Referring to his resignation as "Leader of the Opposition", the Congress leader said the decision was taken by the party high command, as it wanted him to contest the LS elections.

Meanwhile, a group of his followers shouted slogans against former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramiah and urged Mr Kharge to reconsider his decision.

It may be recalled that the Congress had earlier asked him to tender his resignation to pave way for Mr Siddaramaiah.

Case filed against Sadananda for violating model code

A case filed against BJP state president and Udupi-Chikmagalur candidate D V Sadananda Gowda for violating the Model Code of Conduct on the final day of electioneering today.

The District Election Officer (DEO) and Deputy Commissioner of Udupi P Hemalatha issued notice to Mr Gowda for holding press conference after the deadline of 1700 hrs for electioneering.

Mr Gowda had convened a press conference at 1730 hrs at his partys office after winding up his election rally at Bramhavar near here.

Kharge condemns slipper attack on Yeddyurappa

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge today condemned the hurling of slipper at Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa at an election rally in Chennarayapatna in Hassan district. Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Mysore District Journalists Association here, he said the 'menace' of hurling shoes and slippers at VIPs continued across the country and it was "unfortunate". "This attitude is very bad and against Indian culture," he said.

BSY blames Deve Gowda for slipper incident

Squarely blaming former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his son for the slipper hurling incident at a public meeting at Hassan district today, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa alleged that the incident was a deliberate attempt by his political foes to insult him.

Talking to newspersons after attending a public meeting at Nyamati village in Honnali taluk, the Chief Minister alleged that the incident was orchestrated by the father-son duo (Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy) only to heap insult on him.

Stating that it was not the way to treat a Chief Minister, Mr Yeddyurappa declared that one could not be expected to be cowed down by such incidents as he was in public life by waging struggles for the common good. "The Opposition parties, frustrated with BJP's popularity, have resorted to such incidents," he claimed.

Accused Chandrashekhar, a former District President of the Khadi Board, flung his slipper at the Chief Minister after shouting 'Deve Gowda ki Jai'. The slipper, which was thrown towards the dais, however, fell short of the target by about 30 ft and did not hurt anyone.