From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, May 6: Electioneering for 2,641 grama panchayts involving 43,791 seats going to polls in the first phase on May 7 came to an end on Thursday evening.

Polling will be held on Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm in the grama panchayats of Bangalore Urban and Rural, Ramanagaram, Chitradurga, Davangere, Kolar, Chickballapur, Shimoga, Tumkur, Bidar, Bellary, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur and Koppal districts and two taluksof Udupi district,

Over 1.16 lakh candidates are contesting lections for 43,791 GP seats in 16 districts in the first phase.

As elections would be held on non-party basis, there were no major violations of the model code of conduct, the officials of the State election commission said.

No candidates have filed nominations for 43 seats while 3,941 candidates elected unopposed in 16 districts.

The state election commission has directed all institutions, industries, factories and establishments to provide sufficient time to employees to cast their votes on Saturday.