The first phase of election to 3,019 Gram Panchayats in Karnataka got underway on Tuesday amidst precautions in the light of COVID-19.
According to the State Election Commission, there are 1,17,383 candidates in the fray for 48,048 seats.
The voting began at 7 a.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m. COVID-19 patients and those who are suspected to have the infection are allowed to vote in the last one hour. In the light of COVID-19, the number of voters in each booth have been reduced from 1,500 to 1,000 and anganwadi and ASHA workers along with Health Department officials have been roped in for poll duty.
The election to four constituencies in Ballari was countermanded following reports of auction of the seats. There have been other instances of seats being auctioned too. Some of the districts recorded a high number of unanimous election of candidates.
The second phase of polling is on December 27. In both phases, 2.96 crore electors will vote to elect 92,121 members for Gram Panchayat across Karnataka. The results will be announced on December 30.
Though GP polls are fought on a non-partisan basis, polls are crucial for parties to provide strength in the coming elections to taluk and zilla panchayats and State Assembly elections in 2023.
Here are the updates:
No contestants, no polls in Kodi GP in Udupi
Kodi Gram Panchayat under Brahmavar Taluk in Udupi district where elections had been scheduled in the first phase on December 22 did not go to the polls on Monday as there were no contestants.
People in the 12-member panchayat boycotted the polls on two issues, one related to the non-grant of title deeds and another one is linked to the delay in the construction of a fisheries jetty in the backwaters of Seethanadi river.
Krishna Poojary P, a former member of the panchayat, told The Hindu that the government has not given “hakku patra” (title deed) to 431 houses built under four wards of the panchayat. The houses were constructed since 1960s. The government officials have cited rules of the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) which are coming in the way of granting title deeds. But since houses have been built even before the CRZ rules came into force the government can give one-time relaxation and grant title deeds, he said.
Mr. Poojary said that the government has not completed the construction of the jetty also citing the rules of the CRZ. In addition, no dredging has been done on the jetty to remove the silt accumulated over the years.
Hence people did not contest the polls, he said.
B. Sadashiva Prabhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udupi said that though three candidates had filed their nominations they withdrew them later. Hence there were no candidates in the fray.
Kodi was among 67 gram panchayats in Udupi where elections had been scheduled in the first place. As there were no contestants 66 gram panchayats in Udupi district went to the polls in the first phase.
- Raviprasad Kamila
Polling begins in Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru
Polling has begun in the rural areas of Shivamogga, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru districts. According to initial reports, there were hardly a few people in front of the booths in the morning hours.
In Shivamogga district, Thirthahalli, Bhadravathi and Shivamogga taluks are going for the polls. Up to 9 a.m., the district registered 9.33% of voters’ turnout. Among those who exercised their right to vote included senior citizens and aged people. Duggamma, 105, visited the polling booth at Honnetalu in Thirthahalli taluk with her family members. The candidates in the fray were seen thanking the old woman for taking the trouble to vote. Interestingly, in this village six candidates, contesting for two seats had taken an oath not to lure voters by offering any gifts.
In Salagame of Hassan taluk, 96-year-old Siddappa reached the polling booth in a wheel-chair. In Hassan, district polling is being held Arakalgud, Hassan, Chanaraypatna and Sakaleshpur taluks in the first phase. The district recorded 9.85 pc of turnout up to 9 a.m.
The election is being held in all eight taluks of Chikkamagaluru taluk. According to initial reports, 8.54 pc of voters did exercise their right till 9 am. So far the polling has been peaceful in three districts. The polling staff are following the COVID-19 norms at the booths. The voters have to undergo thermal scanning at the entrance. The election commission has made arrangements to allow people infected with COVID-19 to vote.
