80.33 pc voter turnout in first phase of GP elections

The first phase of gram panchayat polls held in 15 districts in Mysuru and Belagavi revenue divisions on May 29 recorded 80.33 per cent polling, slightly higher than the 2010 polls, when the polling percentage was 80.24 per cent.

While Mandya (84.77 pc), Hassan (84.32 pc), Mysuru (83.82 pc), Chamarajanagar (83.09 pc) districts have recorded high percentage of polling, Kodagu (71.25 pc), and Udupi (71.65 pc), districts have registered a relatively low voter turnout, in comparison to others.

In 2010, too, Mandya recorded highest polling with 86.74 per cent, while Kodagu had recorded the lowest voter turnout of 71.55 per cent.

P N Srinivasachari, Commissioner, State Election Commission, said the coastal districts and Kodagu witnessed heavy rains on Friday, which could be one of the factors for the low turnout. “But, over the years, this has been the trend in these districts, where a majority of the residents have settled outside their hometowns,” he added. He said the compulsory voting clause had not made much of an impact. “There is usually a good voter turnout during GP polls, with or without compulsory voting,” he said.

In 2010, the Bengaluru and Kalaburagi divisions (which will go to polls on June 2), had recorded polling of 80.23 pc. Then, Kolar had recorded the highest turnout with 87.67 pc of voters exercising their franchise, while Bengaluru Urban had registered only 67.83 pc polling.

The fate of the 1,19,648 candidates will be revealed on June 5, the day of counting.
Re-polling for 11 gram panchayats in six districts, namely, Gadag, Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Belagavi and Chamarajanagar, will be held on Sunday between 7 am and 5 pm.  Re-polling for 11 GPs in six districts has been announced because of errors committed by the administration, said Srinivasachari. Changed symbols, names of candidates missing, and spilling of ink on ballot paper, are the reasons for re-polling.

“There was some confusion in according the symbols ‘television’ and ‘telephone’ to candidates. This is what happened in Hemmaragala GP in Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru district. “Despite the symbol changing, the candidate who was confident of victory raised no objection. But we have announced re-polling owing to the error,” added Srinivasachari.

“In Hudali GP in Belagavi, the nomination of a candidate was cancelled due to an oversight. “Following these errors, I have issued an advisory to all 15 deputy commissioners of the Bengaluru and Kalaburagi divisions to ensure that such errors are not repeated,” he added.
The second phase of polling (Bengaluru and Kalaburagi divisions) will be held on June 2.

Candidate’s son found dead

The son of woman candidate for gram panchayat polls was found dead mysteriously at Kiranguru village in Mandya  on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Nitin Kumar (28). He was studying MBA through distance mode from Karnataka State Open University. His mother Rachamma had contested for the GP polls.

Nitin went missing on May 28 and was found head, hanging from a tree on the outskirts of the village.Mandya Rural police have registered a case.

    District                                  GP    Percentage

Chikkamagaluru    217    80.07
Dakshina Kannada                227    72.98
Udupi    155    71.65
Hassan    254    84.32
Kodagu    102    71.25
Mandya    230    84.77
Mysuru    266    83.82
Chamarajanagar    129    83.09
Belagavi    480    81.39
Vijayapura    210    78.95
Bagalkot    197    81.44
Dharwad    135    81.37
Gadag    116    80.47
Haveri    206    83.96
Uttara Kannada    230    74.73
    Total                                     3154    80.33