NEW DELHI: Hours after the election commission announced dates for Karnataka Assembly elections, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the next government in the state “with an absolute majority once again.”
“The BJP is ready for Karnataka elections. The party will form the government with an absolute majority once again in the state,” Joshi told ANI.
The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Karnataka Assembly elections. The polling will take place in a single phase on May 10, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Wednesday. The counting of votes will be done on May 13, the CEC said at a press conference.
Giving details, the CEC said that there are a total of 5.21 crore voters in the state and the number of 100-plus voters is 16,976. The total number of 80-plus electors is 12.15 lakh. It is an increase of 32 per cent from 2018. It also includes 16,976 proud electors who are 100-plus. The number of persons with disabilities (PWDs) has increased to 5.55 lakh. This is an increase of close to 150 per cent,” Kumar said.
He said that the first-time voters have increased from 2018-19 by 9.17 lakh in Karnataka. “All young voters who are turning 18 years of age by April 1, will be able to vote in the Karnataka Assembly elections”, he said.
The CEC also laid down the security measures for the identified sensitive booths in the state. “The average number of electors per polling station comes to 883. AT all the sensitive booths which have been identified, we take four to five measures. Either there will be CAPF, web-casting or a micro-observer or with a combination of all of these, we tend to put more vigour and vigil on the sensitive booths”, he informed.
“There will be 240 model polling stations which will be made eco-friendly and green booths. A total of 100 booths will be managed purely by persons with disabilities,” Kumar added, explaining the measures taken by the ECI for attracting the youth to vote. (ANI)