The counting of votes for Gram Panchayat elections, which began in five taluks of the district on Friday morning, evoked tremendous response from curious supporters of the candidates.
Polling was held for 206 GPs to elect 3,378 candidates while 9,969 candidates were testing their political fortune. Some 527 candidates had already elected unopposed.
The polling could not be held in 53 village for various reasons including boycotting the election, stay by the courts or they have not completed the term.
In Vijayapura city, where counting was held at Darbar High School, people started gathering outside the school from Friday morning and by noon all roads and open areas was packed with people. Jubilant supporters of winning candidates smeared colours on each other.
The Deputy Commissioner, D. Randeep said that the counting may continue till midnight.
Other Highlights
In Arakeri GP of Vijayapura taluk two women candidates won by securing 329 votes each. The ward was reserved for SC woman, in which Kashibai Singri and Chennavva Kamble won the election.
In Aliabad GP of Vijayapura taluk, it was found during the counting that some fifty ballot papers were left blank by the voters without putting seal on any candidate.
A cameraperson of BTV Kannada news channel, Asif Bagwan was contesting from ward number four of Minajagi GP of Muddebihal taluk. Till the last reports receive, the counting was going on, thus it was not clear whether he won or lost the election.
