First phase of Gram Panchayat polls underway in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The first phase of Gram Panchayat elections is underway at total of 3,019 panchayats in 117 taluks across Karnataka on Tuesday, December 22.

A total of 1.17 lakh candidates are in the fray for 43,238 seats, they said. Half of the seats are reserved for women.

The election is underway amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and those who have tested positive or under primary/secondary contacts can vote in the last hour of polling, officials said.

Polling are being held from 7 am to 5 pm in over 23,000 booths. Though these polls don’t take place on party symbols, all political parties have put in efforts to ensure that the candidate supported by them wins.

A total of 4,377 candidates have been elected unopposed already, officials said.

Elaborate security and COVID-related precautionary measures are in place and adding that wearing masks and maintaining social distance are mandatory.

Hand sanitizers is also be available in polling booths.

The second phase of polls is scheduled on December 27. Counting for both phases will be held on December 30.