From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 21: Stage is set for conduct of elections to 3,019 gram panchayats (GP) with more than 50% of villages in State getting ready to exercise their franchise all over Karnataka amidst COVID-19
on Tuesday.

A total of 1,17,383 candidates are in the fray in 43,238 GP seats in 117 taluks. However, over 4,300 candidates have already been elected unopposed.

Polling would be held from 7 am to 5 pm on Tuesday in 23,706 booths.

COVID-19 positive voters would be allowed to exercise their franchise in the last hour of the polling and they would be assisted by health officials, the State Election Commission announced.

Stakes are high for both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress and JD(S) as winning more seats in GP elections provide strength to the party in the coming elections to various local bodies, including TPs, ZPs and State Legislative Assembly elections.

Owing to COVID-19, preparations have been made to ensure free and fair elections.

The number of voters in each booth have been reduced from 1,500 to 1,000.

Hand sanitizers would be made available in polling booths. Wearing masks and maintaining social distance has been made mandatory during voting.

The law that set aside 50% seats for women in GPs and this makes elections all the more important.

Elections are equally significant for parties and leaders to establish bonds with the local electorate which would lead to build a political constituency in the Assembly elections.

In 2015 elections to GPs, the Congress registered emphatic victory with number one position in 21 districts. The Congress won 62,000 seats of GPs out of 92,000 in 2015.

The second phase of polling would be held on December 27.

Counting of votes would be held on December 30 from 8 am onwards.