From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 12: The stage is set for the polling in the by-elections to three State Assembly constituencies and zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats in 15 districts of Karnataka on Saturday February 13.

Voting will be from 7 am to 5 pm tomorrow with all political parties fielding candidates for the assembly by-elections as well as zilla and taluk panchayat elections.

A total of 2087 candidates are in the fray for 550 ZP seats and 6288 candidates for 1945 TP seats. Independents are in the fray in 517 ZP constituencies.

The Chief Electoral Officer as well as the State Election Commission has directed employees in private firms to provide time for employees to cast their votes.

All government establishments would remain closed in 15 districts and Hebbal, Bidar and Devadurga constituencies, which are going to polls.

Arrangements have been made to hold elections peacefully, authorities said.

The districts that are going to polls for ZP/TP in the first phase are: Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagaram, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kolar, Chikkballapur, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Belagavi, Haveri, Bagalakote, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, and Gadag.

Officials of the State Election Commission said candidates in two ZP and 11 TP candidates have been elected unopposed.

A total of 6288 candidates are in the fray for 1934 TP seats in 15 districts that would go to polls on Saturday.

The ruling Congress party has fielded candidates 1927 constituencies, BJP in 1942 and JD(S) in 1133 constituencies. Independents are in the fray in 1188 constituencies.

Another 15 districts would go to polls in the second phase on February 20.

Counting for all the constituencies would be held on February 23.