Elections to 105 urban local bodies on Aug 29

Elections to 105 urban local bodies (ULB), excluding all city corporations like the BBMP, will be held on August 29, the State Election Commission announced on Thursday.

With the announcement, that the model code of conduct will come into force with immediate effect, State Election Commissioner P N Sreenivasachari told reporters.

Elections to the Shivamogga, Mysuru and Tumakuru city corporations have been deferred as a matter is pending before the Karnataka High Court.

The election notification will be issued on August 10, and the last date for candidates to file nominations is August 17. Votes polled will be counted on September 1.

As many as 208 ULBs went to polls in 2013. Their term will end between September 2018 and March 2019. “Therefore, the polls will be held in two phases,” Sreenivasachari said. In the first phase, 29 city municipalities, 53 town municipalities and 23 town panchayats will go to polls on August 29.

There are totally 36.03 lakh voters across the 105 ULBs who, for the first time, will get to choose the None of the Above (NOTA) option, Sreenivasachari said.