Regional Commissioner and Returning Officer Zahera Naseem addressing candidates contesting the Karnataka Legislative Council election from the North-East Teachers’ Constituency at a meeting in Kalaburagi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
A total of 13 candidates are in the fray for the election to one seat from the North-East Teachers’ Constituency of the Karnataka Legislative Council following the withdrawal of one nomination on Friday.
Regional Commissioner Zahira Naseem, who is the Returning Officer for the constituency, said all arrangements had been made to conduct the election in a free and transparent manner.
Addressing candidates at a meeting held at her office in Kalaburagi on Friday, she said polling would be held on October 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One independent candidate, Nabirasool, son of Dastagirsab Jakati, withdrew his nomination on the last day for withdrawal.
As many as 14 nominations had been found valid during scrutiny on Wednesday. With one candidate withdrawing, 13 candidates remain in the fray.
Ms. Naseem said Model Code of Conduct enforcement teams were functioning in all taluks and candidates could lodge complaints by contacting the control room on 08472-200255.
She instructed candidates to comply with the prescribed rules for election campaigning. Pamphlets must be printed in accordance with Annexure 7C. Prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner’s office is mandatory for vehicles operating within a district, while permission from the Regional Commissioner’s office is required for the entire constituency.
According to the office of the Regional Commissioner, the constituency has 34,784 registered voters, comprising 20,040 men and 14,744 women. A total of 144 polling stations, including one auxiliary polling station in Ballari, have been arranged. Candidates can appoint polling agents by submitting the prescribed forms to the Deputy Commissioners concerned.
On polling day, prohibitory orders will be in force within a 200-metre radius of polling and counting centres, and the sale and consumption of liquor will be prohibited. Webcasting will be arranged at all polling stations to ensure transparency. Voters must produce an identity document approved by the Election Commission.
Explaining the voting procedure, the Returning Officer said voters must indicate their preferences only with the violet-coloured sketch pen supplied by the Election Commission. Preferences may be marked using Kannada, English or Roman numerals. There is no NOTA option in this election. Ballots on which the preference number is omitted or other marks are made will be treated as invalid, she said.
The strong room and counting centre will be set up at Bhaskar Hall on the Gulbarga University campus in Kalaburagi. The seal of the strong room will be opened at 7.45 a.m. on October 27, and the concerned persons have been advised to be present.
Counting will be held on October 27, with 14 counting tables arranged. Candidates must submit details of their counting agents, along with photographs, in Form 18. A media centre will function in the auditorium of the Department of Zoology, adjacent to Bhaskar Hall.
Published – October 09, 2026 08:54 pm IST
