The process for the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Belagavi City Corporation for the 17th term commenced on the BCC premises on Saturday. However the procedure lacked transparency with Regional Commissioner and Returning Officer In-charge M. Manjunatha Naik restricting the presence of mediapersons at the event.
In the past, almost all mayoral elections were open for the media.
Official sources at the BCC said the Regional Commissioner would declare the results after the elections later in the afternoon.
Satish L. Jarkiholi, district in-charge Minister; Suresh C. Angadi, MP (Belagavi); Feroz N. Sait, MLA (Belagavi North), Sambhaji L. Patil, MLA (Belagavi South) and Sanjay B. Patil, MLA (Belagavi Rural) have voting rights.