Citing lack of basic amenities, the people have decided to boycott the gram panchayat elections in parts of Arsikere and Belur taluks in Hassan district. As a consequence, there are no contestants for 115 seats in different gram panchayats of the district. Of them, 56 are in Arsikere and 50 in Belur taluks, one each in Arkalgud, Sakleshpur and Channarayapatna and three each in Hassan and Holenarsipur taluks.
The people of Arsikere and Belur taluks have been demanding irrigation projects for many decades. Madihalli Lift irrigation project, meant to irrigate vast areas in the two taluks, has not been completed for many years. They were also expecting the Yettinahole project would benefit them, but were disappointed as these taluks were not included in the list of areas to be covered by it. There will be no election for 106 seats in the two taluks, even as candidates for 409 seats have been elected unopposed.
Training
The Hassan district administration on Friday conducted a training programme for the presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling staff at all taluk headquarters. The programme at Hassan was conducted by tahsildar V. Manjunath and election observer Mahesh. The programmed focussed on the procedures to be followed for smooth conduct of elections.
People’s move has left 115 seats in Hassan district without contestants
409 candidates have been elected unopposed
