Official machinery gearing up for ULB elections in Shimoga

Polling for the eight urban local bodies is scheduled for March 7

The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the elections to eight urban local bodies (ULBs) in the district scheduled for March 7.

Process of filing the nomination papers, which began on Saturday, will conclude on February 23. The last day for withdrawal of nomination would be February 27. Polling will be held from 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Counting will be held at the respective taluk headquarters on March 11.

The local bodies that are going to the polls are: city municipal councils of Shimoga, Bhadravati, Sagar, the town municipal council of Shikaripur and the town panchayats of Hosanagar, Tirthahalli, Sorab, and Shiralakoppa.

There are 4,13,305 voters — 2, 07,724 men and 2, 05,581 women. The election will be held across 176 wards of the eight ULBs. For the first time, electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the local bodies’ election in the district. A meeting of tahsildars and senior police officers was held to discuss the preparations for the election.

Election will be held in 35 wards of Shimoga CMC which has 2,14,009 voters on the list. Bhadravati CMC has 35 wards and 1,09,065 listed voters while Sagar CMC has 31 wards with 37,459 listed voters.

Shikaripur TMC comprises 23 wards and has 20,911 listed voters. Shiralakoppa Town Panchayat has 15 wards with 10,137 voters while the number of voters in Tirthahalli Town Panchayat is 9,267 and it has 15 wards. Hosanagar Town Panchayat and Sorab Town Panchayat have 11 wards each and the numbers of eligible voters are 4,244 and 8,204 respectively.

Code of conduct

The model code of conduct has come into effect in the district on Friday and will be in force till March 11. Deputy Commissioner Vipul Bhansal has ordered removal of publicity material like buntings and banners from the ULBs that are facing election. The official vehicles given to the elected representatives of the ULBs have been withdrawn. Public programmes to denote the inauguration or completion of development work have been cancelled within the ULB limits.

The Shimoga Urban Development Authority on Saturday called off a public function, which was organised to distribute sites to the homeless.