Mysuru:  With the countdown for the Dec. 5 by-poll to Hunsur assembly segment in the district having already begun,the district administration  is fully geared up to ensure a free and fair poll.

Addressing a press meet at his office here yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G.Sankar, who is also the District Electoral Officer, said that voting will take place on Dec.5 and the counting of votes will be taken up on Dec.9 at D.Devaraj Urs Government First Grade College in Hunsur.

Pointing out that there are ten candidates in the fray, Sankar said that Hunsur Assembly segment has 2,27,974 voters, including 1,14,146 men,1,12,770 women and 6 other voters.

A total of 274 polling booths have been set up in the constituency and 329 ballot units, 329 control units and 357 M3 EVM units will be used in the election.The mustering and de-mustering process will take place at D.Devaraj Urs First Grade College, he said and added that elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure a free and fair poll.

Clarifying that the Model Code of Conduct applies to only Hunsur Assembly segment, the DC said that a total of nine checkposts covering all entry and exit roads of the constituency have been set up to check vehicles. 

The checkposts are at Manuganahalli,Veeranahosahalli (Ummathur),Chilkunda, Gavadagere (Chikkadanahalli), Muthurayana Hosahalli, Doddekoppalu, Aswal, Shantipura and Shirenahalli.

Stating that Rs. 6,35,300 unaccounted cash was seized from vehicles so far, out of which Rs.4 lakh has been returned to the owners upon production of supporting documents, Abhiram G.Sankar said that unaccounted pamphlets, vessels, sarees, vehicles, tankers and other materials totally worth Rs.97.90 lakh have been seized  so far and 40 cases have been registered for Poll Code violations. Dec.5, the date on which the bypoll will take place, has been declared a paid public holiday in Hunsur, he added.

SP C.B. Ryshyanth said that all security  measures have been taken for the by-poll. The Police have carried  out a flag march in sensitive areas in order to instil a sense of security among the voters, he said and added that four CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) teams will arrive at Hunsur in a couple of days as part of the security arrangements.

Central poll observers Amar Kushwa and Upinder Singh and other officials were present.

Public can lodge complaints on any model poll code violations and electoral malpractices indulged by candidates to General  Observer Amar Kushwa (cell phone no.7259813556)Expenditure Observer Upinder Singh (7899831135), Hunsur Assistant Commissioner S.Poovitha (9606137722), Hunsur AC Office 08222-252073, Hunsur taluk office 08222-252040 and the  Deputy Commissioner’s office helpline in Mysuru (1077/1950).