Gram Panchayat poll ends peacefully

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 12: The Gram Panchayat elections on May 12 were very peaceful although certain irregularities such as missing names in voter’s lists cropped up. More than 75 percent of the voters exercised their right to vote.

Names of voters were missing from the voter’s lists in a number of Gram Panchayats. Authorities also identified two cases of cheating. The elections commenced at 7 a.m. and concluded at 5 p.m. Large queues could be seen in front of polling booths in Kotekar, Someshwar, Kurnadu, Phajeeru, Sajipanandu, and many other places. 

More than 3000 Gram Panchayath members, including 1,434 women, in the district’s five taluks are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the polls. A total of 1,115 polling booths have been established out of which 336 were classified as sensitive and 181 were classified as hyper sensitive. The total electorate of the district is 8,96,719 including 4,51,113 women and 4,45,606 men. 

About a 100 candidates have been elected unopposed in many Gram Panchayaths. These elected candidates are the 9 members of Kalmadka Gram Panchayath, 6 candidates in Nellur Kemraj GP, 32 candidates in Bantwal, 30 in Mangalore, 19 in Sullia, 7 in Belthangady, and 6 in Puttur. 

Election for one reserved seat will not be conducted in Pavoor GP because the sole contestant for this seat was rejected owing to inadequate information in the caste certificate. 

Counting will commence on May 17; and the results will be revealed by the evening.