BJP, Congress claim big victory in the Panchayat polls
Both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress inKarnatakaon Wednesday claimed major victories for candidates backed by them in the recent elections to over 5,700 village panchayats even as counting of votes polled in the grass-root level exercise was underway.
The elections, not held on party symbols, were conducted to 82,616 seats in 5,728 village panchayats in two phases on December 22 and 27 using ballot papers with a voter turnout of 78.58 per cent and counting was taken up on Wednesday morning.
KarnatakaState Election Commission officials said counting was on at 226 centres at the Taluk headquarters by adhering to strict Covid-19 protocol of mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing and hand hygiene.
PTI
Two candidates emerge victorious by a single vote
Two candidates contending in the current gram panchayat polls in Molakalmuru taluk emerged victorious by a single vote.
Jangama Kamaiah emerged as the winner in the elections to the Tumakuru panchayat against Gudla Nayaka by a single vote. She gained 167 votes while her opponent got 166 votes.
Similarly, in Yarapota Jogihalli of the Rayapura gram panchayat limits, Basamma emerged victorious by gaining 152 votes against her opponent Thayamma.
Counting commences in Udupi
As counting commences, two roads in Baindoor and Udupi are restricted for public, while 200 meters around the counting centres is considered a restricted area.
The security has been strengthened in the surrounding areas of the demustering centres where counting will be held, said DC G Jagadeesha. As many as 948 personnel have been deployed for counting.
Celebrations are strictly prohibited. If at all, the victorious candidate wish to celebrate, only green crackers are permitted for bursting.
The elections were held for 153 gram panchayats in two phases in Udupi district on Dec 22 and 27. A total of 128 candidates have already been elected unopposed. The fate of 5,057 candidates contesting for 2,374 seats will be decided on Wednesday. The district had recorded 74.78% polling. Out of 7,80,090 voters, a total of 5,83,342 voters had exercised their franchise. About 76.72% of the women voters had exercised their franchise in the district.
Of the total polling, Hebri taluk had registered highest of 79.41% and Baindoor had registered lowest of 71.28% polling.
Counting of votes begins in Dakshina Kannada: The counting of the ballots will be held at the demustering centres in the respective taluks.
Though the election to the Gram Panchayats were not contested on party basis, a majority of the contestants owe allegiance to some party. It is this identity that prompts political parties to make claims of establishing control over the Gram Panchayats. The polls are also seen as a prelude to the forthcoming elections to the taluk and the town panchayts due, this year. According to Bantwal Tahsildar Anithalakshmi, three rounds of counting will be held at Bantwal. In the first round, ballots of 16 GPs, in the second, ballots of 17 GPs and in the third round, ballots of 24 GPs will be counted. The candidate or his agent is allowed inside the counting centre.
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Counting of votes in Dakshina Kannada today
Fate of 7,275 candidates in fray for 3,131 seats in 220 gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada will be decided at the end of the counting process on Wednesday.
The district had registered 74.43% polling in the first phase in Mangaluru, Moodbidri and Bantwal taluks, while it had registered 78.70% polling in the second phase held at Puttur, Sullia, Belthangady and Kadaba taluks. In the first phase, out of 5,06,231 voters, a total of 4,16,984 voters had exercised their franchise. In the second phase, out of 491876 voters, as many as 3,87,107 voters have exercised their franchise.
27 Covid-19 patients had cast their votes in Karnataka Gram Panchayat polls
27 Covid-19 infected voters cast their votes in the Gram Panchayat phase two election held in the district on Sunday.
The State Election Commission had allowed the infected to exercise their franchise by wearing PPE kits, District Health Officer Dr Ramachandra Bayari told DH.
Of the 27, 14 cast their votes in Belthangady taluk, 12 in Kadaba and one in Puttur taluk.
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Counting of votes begins in 14 taluk headquarters in Belagavi
Counting of votes for Gram Panchayat elections in 14 taluks in the district commenced in respective taluk headquarters on Wednesday.
The fate of 20,728 candidates contesting in the election from 477 Gram Panchayats will be decided.
Candidate wins by single vote
Rani Nagendra, a GP candidate of Anjinahalli under Sanapura Gram Panchayat limits in Gangavati taluk won by a single vote against her rival Shanthamma.
While Rani secured 79 votes, Shanthamma got 78 votes. The counting of votes polled in Gram Panchayat is being held today.
While the first phase had seen a voter turnout of about 82 per cent, it was around 80 per cent in the second phase.
Though these polls don't take place on party symbols, all the political parties had put in efforts to ensure that the candidate supported by them wins, so as to have their hold on grassroot level politics, which may prove advantageous for them in taluk or zilla panchayat and even assembly polls whenever it happens.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday claimed the ruling BJP supported candidates are likely to win majority of the seats.
"According to my information, it is certain that 85-90 per cent BJP supported candidates will get elected in Gram Panchayat polls," he had said.
The counting process began at 226 centres at 8 am and the results are expected to be out by afternoon.
Over 1,100 security personnel have been deployed at the counting centres, State Election Commisioner B Basavaraju said.
According to the State Election Commission, the model code of conduct will remain in effect till 5 pm on December 31 in the gram panchayat limits that went to polls.
According to the State Election Commission, the model code of conduct will remain in effect till 5 pm on December 31 in the gram panchayat limits that went to polls.
As ballot papers were used in polls other than in Bidar district where EVMs were used, the announcement of results may get delayed.
GP Polls were held on Dec 22 and Dec 27
The gram panchayat elections were held in two phases - December 22 and December 27 - that recorded a voter turnout of over 80%. The elections saw 2.22 lakh candidates vying for some 82,000 seats.
Counting process begins at Government Polytechnic College in Kalaburagi. Credit: DH Photo
Counting of votes cast in gram panchayat elections commenced at respective taluk headquarters in Mysuru.
Karnataka Gram Panchayat polls: Counting of votes begins in 14 taluk headquarters in Belagavi
Counting of votes for Gram Panchayat elections in 14 taluks in the district commenced in respective taluk headquarters on Wednesday.
Although the Gram Panchayat elections were not fought on party symbols, a bulk of the candidates are backed by either one of the three parties - BJP, Congress and the JD(S). As many as 8,074 candidates were elected unopposed amid reports that some seats were auctioned.
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