Bangalore:
The state election commission on Monday set the ball rolling for the zilla and taluk panchayat (ZP & TP) elections by announcing two-phase polling on December 26 and 31. The poll code of conduct comes into effect immediately.
State election commissioner CR Chikmath announced the calendar of events on Monday for 30 zilla panchayats having a total of 1,013 seats and 176 taluk panchayats with 3659 seats. Due to a stay order by the high court, elections will not be held in Gadag, Haveri and Davangere districts, he said.
Counting of votes would be taken up on January 4, 2011. The forthcoming polls would see women getting 50% reservation against 33% in the earlier elections.
"For the first time, we are using electronic voting machines for TP and ZP elections. We have already taken 1,18,645 ballot units and 75,044 control units," Chikmath said.
"The election commission will keep an eye on the candidates' expenditure. Observers would be appointed for each district to keep a watch," said Chikmath.
Earlier, chief minister BS Yeddyurappa launched his party's poll campaign from his native village of Bookanakere in Mandya district and expressed confidence of posting a huge victory. However, he said it should not be considered a referendum on the performance of his government.
BJP state president KS Eshwarappa held a convention of his party workers in Bangalore, exhorting them to take the message of the government's achievements to the people. He urged the people not to be misled by the alleged misinformation campaign of the opposition parties against the ruling party.
He termed the various land scams as part of the conspiracy by the opposition to destabilise the government.
Meanwhile, BJP national president Nitin Gadkari is arriving in Bangalore on Tuesday to hold interaction with state leaders, legislators and ministers to fine-tune the strategy for the polls. He is also expected to gather opinion about the performance of state ministers.
Two-phase elections to ZPs and TPs
* Districts under first phase (Dec 26 ) of elections: Bangalore Urban; Bangalore Rural; Ramanagaram; Chitradurga; Davangere; Kolar; Chikballapur; Shimoga; Tumkur; Bidar; Bellary; Raichur; Gulbarga; Yadgir; Koppal
* Districts under second phase (Dec 31): Kodagu; Chikmagalur; Dakshina Kannada; Udupi; Hassan: Mandya; Mysore; Chamarajnagar; Belgaum; Bijapur; Bagalkot; Dharwad; Haveri; Gadag; Uttara Kannada.
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