3,144 GP candidates elected unopposed

Elections will now be held for 40,611 seats in 16 district on May 8. Around 94,000 candidates are in fray for these seats.

Districtwise break-up of candidates in fray during the first phase is as follows:
Bangalore Rural: 3,784; Ramanagar: 4,854; Kolar: 7,005; Chikkaballapur: 5,905; Tumkur: 15,332; Chitradurga: 9,109; Davangere: 8,279; Shimoga: 8,275, Udupi: 3,338; Bellary: 8,254; Raichur: 9,034, Yadgir: 3,730 and Koppal: 7,208.

SEC tells to keep off parties

As campaigning for the forthcoming two-phase Gram Panchayat elections in the State hots up, the State Election Commission (SEC) has warned candidates against using political party symbols or even  photographs of political leaders while canvassing.

In a press release on Friday, SEC stated it has received complaints about political parties organising meetings in the run-up to the polls. The Commission has directed all deputy commissioners and returning officers to seize campaign material with party symbols or banners with photographs of political leaders.

Voters of the GP polls will have indelible ink mark on the middle finger of the right hand. The SEC took the decision as the voters in rural areas have already ink mark put during the recent elections to the co-operative societies.