Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 5: After the time given for the withdrawal of nominations expired in respect of gram panchayat (GP) elections being held for 200 GPs of Dakshina Kannada (DK) district expired, 7,500 persons including 3,007 women have remained in the fray.

In Mangalore taluk, 2,306 candidates including 889 women will contest the elections in 49 GPs. In 27 constituencies, candidates have come out victorious unopposed.

In Puttur taluk, the fate of 1,279 candidates including 503 women will be decided in the election for 37 GPs. In Sullia, 708 candidates will be trying their chance for 320 seats available in 27 GPs.

In Bantwal taluk, 1,736 candidates including 711 women will battle it out for 804 seats of 46 GPs. In Beltangady taluk, 1,471 candidates including 597 women will be trying their luck at the hustings for 41 GPs. Seven have been unanimously elected.

In Udupi district, 5,007 candidates spread over Kundapur (1,669), Udupi (2,312) and Karkala (1026) candidates remain in the fray. The number of candidates elected unopposed are 73 in Kundapur taluk, and 49 in Udupi taluk. None of the candidates in Karkala taluk have been elected unopposed.

The under secretary in the State Election Commission has issued instructions to declare a general holiday in all the rural areas of the state during the election, to enable the workers to cast their votes. In DK district, elections are being held on May 12, and the counting of votes has been scheduled for May 17.