Udupi: Zilla Panchayat CEO Prabhakar Sharma forecasts 85% Voting in Assembly Election

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 5 May 2013: The voter’s turnout in the past assembly elections held during 2008 was 75.88 percent in Udupi district, while it’s likely to exceed 85 percent in the upcoming elections on Sunday May 5, said district SWEEP Committee president and ZP chief executive officer S A Prabhakar Sharma.

Addressing the media persons here on Saturday May 4, Sharma said that SWEEP programme that motivates all voters to cast their votes was most successful across the district.  The response was overwhelming from the general public and its hoped the voters turnout would likely to exceed 85 percent this time, said Sharma.

 

SMS was sent to 1.53 lac families through the students of 1,000 education institutions, 68,000 mothers through 1,140 nursery teachers and 600 Asha animators, 45,000 fisheries families through the fisheries department, 55,000 labourers employed in different industries and factories, 500 civic workers through town council.

The chancellor of Manipal University sent e-mails to 4,000 staff, urging them to vote in the assembly elections.  The pledging papers have been signed by 4,000 staff of various banks to exercise their franchisee.

The banners were displayed in buses, announcements made in the tourist spot at Kaup and other areas, the general awareness has been created on the significance of voting through Yakshagana plays and street plays.  The appeal by Deputy Commissioner was hand delivered to each household family.  The information and broadcasting department has screened documentary on the importance of voting.  All India Radio (AIR) and FM Radio transmitted the messages.  The local cable network organized programmes.  The general awareness was created by para gliding.  The campaigns were organized in gram panchayats, Dalit colonies and slum areas, said Sharma.

SWEEP Committee nodal officer M Junjanna,members Sridar Nayak, district election awareness officer Moses Jayashekar were present at the press meet.