Mangaluru/Udupi, May 29: As the gram panchayats elections across the state began at 8 am on Friday May 29th, the voters were seen enthusiastically lining up to cast their votes at the respective voting centres.
Enthusiastic citizens, even the persons suffering from ill health and disability were found arriving happily at their respective poling centres to exercise their franchise.
Mohandas Swamiji also arrived to the respective voting center to exercise the franchise.
As voting has been made mandatory this time, the voting percentage is expected to be comparatively more this time.
The first phase of gram panchayat poll on Friday, May 29th will take place in districts such as Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mandya, Udupi, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, and Uttara Kannada.
Using ballots, polling will be done this time, and for a change, indelible ink mark will be dropped to the left thumb.
Across the state, 1,20,663 candidates are competing with each other for 43,579 seats.
Although 48,621 seats are to be filled this time, no nominations have been received for 554 seats, and in 4,460 seats election has been unanimous. Because of court stay order, election is not conducted for 28 seats.
In the naxal affected areas, sensitive, and super sensitive polling booths, strict security has been deployed.
