Around 71% polling in Second Phase of Grama Panchayat elections
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
BANGALORE, MAY 12: As against 80.23 % polling recorded in last week’s first phase elections in 16 districts of Karnataka’s grama panchayat polls, the second phase elections which concluded in the remaining 15 districts on Wednesday witnessed roughly 71 % polling.
The elections to 2,833 grama panchayats in the 15 districts in the second phase were by and large peaceful, according to the State Election Commission (SEC).
Barring few stray incidents of mistakes in printing of symbols in ballot papers in a few booths and boycott of polling in some villages, the polling was by and large peaceful.
Printing mistakes have been reported from a few booths in districts of Belgaum division. Repolling would be held on May 15.
State Election Commission Secretary D K Ravindranath said, quoting preliminary reports, 70.92 % of the electorate exercised their franchise in the second phase.
Belgaum and Hassan recorded highest turnout of 80 % voters while Uttara Kannada recorded lowest 65 % polling.
The percentage of polling in the first phase in 16 districts was 80.23. The exact percentage of polling in the second phase would known only on Thursday when full details were expected, Ravindranath said.
The percentage of polling in different districts is as follows: Mysore 65, Chamarajanagar -68, Hassan -80, Kogadu - 68, Mandya - 75, Chikmagalur -70, Dakshina Kannada -75, Kundapur taluk of Ududpi district -65, Belgaum -80, Bijapur -70, Bagalkote -70.83, Dharwad -72, Gadag -70, Haveri -70, and Uttara Kannada - 65.
The polling decided the fate of over 1.15 lakh candidates who are in the fray for 40,351 seats in 15 districts.
No candidates have filed nominations for 128 seats while 3,938 candidates have been elected
unopposed.
Repolling was held today in 24 polling stations in 11 districts where grama panchayat elections were held on Saturday.
All ballot boxes would be kept at taluk headquarters and counting would be taken up of both phases of polling on May 17. The results are expected by late evening.