Date:23/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/23/stories/2005122322120400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Polling in Itagi Taluk Panchayat deferred

Staff Reporter

Decision follows the death of the Congress candidate

Bangalore: Polling in the Itagi Taluk Panchayat constituency in Hadagali taluk of Bellary district has been cancelled owing to the death of the Congress candidate K.N. Prakash Gowda, and the State Election Commission has rescheduled the polling to January 15.

Speaking to presspersons on Thursday, State Election Commissioner M.R. Hegde said elections to the Telgi Taluk Panchayat constituency in Davangere district would also be held on the same date. There too, the Congress candidate died.

Fresh nominations

He said that candidates whose names remained on the ballot papers in the Itagi constituency at the time of the scrutiny need not file fresh nominations. But now even those who withdrew could submit fresh nominations. In the Telgi constituency, he said that the candidate died before the date of withdrawal and hence all the candidates had to file nominations afresh.

The notification for holding elections for both the constituencies would be issued on December 28.

Mr. Hegde said that there were 2,400 candidates for the 510 zilla panchayat seats and 7,595 candidates for the 1,899 taluk panchayat seats in 13 districts in the second phase of the elections to be held on Friday.

Five taluk panchayat candidates in Bijapur (3) and one each in Bidar and Raichur districts have been declared elected unopposed. He said that 1,56,000 and 50,000 security personnel had been deployed for the smooth conduct of the second phase of elections in 17,615 polling stations. More than 1.4 crore people would cast their votes.

Illicit liquor seized

The Excise Commissioner had informed the commission that 98,234 litres of illicit liquor, 52 boxes and 13 vehicles used for their transportation had been seized in Belgaum, Gadag, Bellary, Bangalore Urban districts and at Hanagal.

Mr. Hegde denied having received any complaint from the BJP against the reported remarks made by Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh in Kunigal taluk of Tumkur district that the people could accept money from any political party, but they should vote for the Congress candidate.

The BJP should instead submit its complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of the district, he said.