From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 27: As many as 8,687 candidates are set be declared elected unopposed in the two phase polls for the 5844 gram panchayats going to polls in Karnataka on May 29 and June 2.
The total number of gram panchayat seats that will be filled up in the two-phase polls is 94,458.
Out of the total number of 6,073 gram panchayats in the State, elections are being held only for 5,844 gram panchayats as the terms of the remaining 229 gram panchayats are due to expire in August this year.
The State Election Commissioner P N Srinivasachari said 901 seats will remain vacant as no nominations have been received for these seats.
Boycott of polls by people
He admitted that residents of several districts including Kolar, Chamarajnagar, Chikkamagaluru and North Karnataka had boycotted the polls.
The boycott was either because of lack of basic amenities, particularly drinking water and a demand to upgrade the existing gram panchayats (GP) into town panchayats, he said.
"Seats in panchayats that have been boycotted will go uncontested now. We will subsequently conduct polls in these places too," he said.
The State Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the two-phased polls to be held on May 29 and June 2.
"We will begin mustering for the first phase tomorrow (on Thursday) and the ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia will be handed over to the designated poll officers on the same day. Polling will be held between 7 am and 5 pm on May 29," Srinivasachari said.
On the reported auctioning of seats in some villages, he said this had been reported only in a few gram panchayats.
"We have instructed the deputy commissioners to conduct a probe. However, when the DCs went to those areas none came forward to give a written complaint. We will have to consider these seats as elected unopposed," he said.
The two phases of polling
During the first phase, on May 29, polling will be held in 15 districts—Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Chamarajnagara, Udupi, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Haveri, Bagalkote, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad and Gadag.
During the second phase, on June 2, polling will be held in the remaining 15 districts—Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Bidar, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur and Koppala.
GP polls - The numbers
Total number of contestants – 2,33,493
Members to be elected unopposed – 8,687
Seats left vacant due to non-submission of nominations – 901
Number of polling stations – 37,754
Sensitive polling stations – 8515
Hypersensitive polling stations – 6167
Total voters – 2,78,50,874
Male voters – 1,41,80,139
Women voters – 1,36,70,735
Total polling staff – 188770
Police force deployed for bandobast – 39,891
Additional reserve police force – 582
Home guards – 18,879
Poll timings – 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ready to hold BBMP polls
Srinivasachari said the State Election Commission is fully prepared to conduct the elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru MahanagaraPalike within three months of the Supreme Court’s verdict.
He said the commission had started preparations including revision of the voters’ list in full swing even before the Supreme Court’s direction came.
"We will abide by the court’s ruling and will conduct the polls accordingly," he said.
Dakshina Kannada gets ready for GP polls
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)
Mangaluru, May 27: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim called a press meet on May 27 to brief about the preparations for gram panchayat elections scheduled on May 29.
Addressing the press meet A B Ibrahim said, "The first phase of polling on May 29 will see 15 districts voting and the remaining 15 districts will vote in the second phase on June 2. Counting of votes for both the phases will be held on June 5.
"May 29 will be a holiday for schools, offices, factories etc coming under the gram panchayats. The district will observe dry day from midnight of Thursday May 28 till midnight of Friday May 29. Violators will be punished as per law," he said.
"As it is compulsory voting, all are requested to come and vote for the right candidate for the development of their gram panchayat. All are requested to maintain law and order during the elections, and ensure a high voting percentage like last year's Lok Sabha elections," he added.
"The mustering and de-mustering of ballot boxes for the gram panchayat (GP) elections would be held at Padua Educational Institutions campus, Nanthoor for Mangaluru taluk. The speciality of this gram panchayat elections is that 1,045 candidates have auto rickshaw as their symbol," he added.
Regarding security arrangements, SP Dr Sharanappa said, "In Dakshina Kannada district there are 880 polling booths, out of which 139 are in hyper-sensitive areas and 65 in Naxal-affected areas. Anti-Naxal Force will be deployed with all arms and ammunitions so as to ensure smooth functioning of the election.
"For the first time, Banjarumale in Beltangady taluk will also have a poll booth. In order to check illegal activities, check posts have been installed in all the locations and sensitive areas will have CCTV cameras for security. All are requested to come and vote, and in case of any illegal activity, citizens are requested not to take law into hands but inform the police immediately," he said.
DCP Vishnuwardhan said, "In the city limits there are 366 polling booths, out of which 51 are in hyper-sensitive areas. CCTV cameras are placed at sensitive areas, and 400-500 of police personal and home guards will be deployed for the smooth functioning of the gram panchayat elections."