Battlelines for the May 29 polling to gram panchayats are clear after the last day of withdrawal of nominations on Thursday.
Of the 481 GPs going to the polls in the district, the High Court of Karnataka has stayed the election to the erstwhile Waghavade GP in Belagavi taluk. The village residents had approached the court challenging the decision of the government to shift the GP headquarters to a smaller village following delimitation.
As many as 86 members were elected unopposed in Benchinmardi (17 members) and Tigadi (10) in Gokak taluk; Kukdolli (7) in Belagavi taluk; and Hebbal (19) and Bellad Bagewadi (33) in Hukkeri taluk. Another 1,059 members too were elected uncontested in 120 wards in nine taluks.
Also, nominations were not filed in 74 seats — Sankankeri (12 members) in Gokak taluk, Toranagatti (14) in Ramdurg taluk and Kabbur (48) in Chikkodi taluk for various reasons. The village residents were protesting against the delay by the government in implementing its decision of upgrading the Sankankeri GP into a town panchayat.
Now, the polling will be held for 7,239 seats in 475 GPs in the district, for which 20,033 candidates were in the fray, Deputy Commissioner and district election officer N. Jayaram said here on Friday.
Arrangements
Superintendent of Police Ravikanthe Gowda said arrangements would be made to ensure free and fair elections.
He said more than 4,000 security personnel would be deployed on the day of polling.
A special election cell had been set up at the district control room for the convenience of the public in need of any service. The cell was functioning 24x7 and could be contacted by dialling ‘100’.
A parade of identified rowdies and goonda elements would be held at the district parade ground on Monday.
He said the police had kept strict vigil on illegal trade of liquor and its supply to the voters. Check-posts had been opened at various entry points of the district having common borders with Goa and Maharashtra.
Mr. Jayaram said illegal liquor, including the stock being smuggled from Goa worth Rs. 11.72 lakh, had been seized and 35 persons arrested so far.
