Karnataka zilla, taluk panchayat polls 2016: Counting of votes to be held today

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Bengaluru: Counting of votes cast in the first and second phase of the zilla and taluk panchayat elections in Karnataka will begin on Tuesday under the watchful eyes of the State Election Commission.

A total of 74.37 percent of voting was recorded in the first phase held on February 12.   

The second phase of the zilla and taluk panchayat elections held in 15 districts of Karnataka on February 21 saw a voter turnout of 68 to 70 percent.

As per the State Election Commissioner P Srinivasachary, polling in both the phases were largely peaceful except for a minor clash in Mysuru district.

Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Hcivic polls, Karassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Udupi, Bidar, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal and Vijayapura were the districts that went for polls in the second phase of polls.

Polling was held to 530 zilla panchayat seats and 1,936 taluk panchayat seats.

A total of 2,159 candidates contested the zilla panchayat polls and 6,457 candidates were in the fray for taluk panchayat seats.

Candidates in one zilla panchayat seat and three taluk panchayat seats have been declared elected unopposed.

Five villages in Basava Kalyan boycotted the polls in protest against the government’s "inability" to provide them drinking water and other facilities.

After casting his vote in Siddaramanahundi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the results of these polls will not be a referendum on the performance of his government.

"Issues for civic polls are different from issues debated during Assembly and Lok Sabha elections," he said.

However, the results may indicate people's reaction to the government's performance, Siddaramaiah said.