GP poll votes counting today

In all, the fate of 2.32 lakh candidates in fray for 80,159 seats in 5,474 Gram Panchayats will be decided at the end of the counting process. As many as 7,878 candidates have already been elected unopposed.

Gram Panchayat elections in all the 30 districts in the State were held in two phases- on May 8 and 12. An average of 80 per cent of  2.51 crore electorate exercised their franchise.

State Election Commission (SEC) Secretary D K Ravindranath said as many as 40,000 officials will be involved in the counting process. Efforts will be made to complete the counting process by 5 pm.

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 Gram Panchayats.

Being grassroots level polls, a firm foot hold is essential for any political party in the Gram Panchayats to achieve success in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The polls are also seen as a prelude to the forthcoming elections to the taluk and town panchayts due this year.