Polling begins for first phase of Gram panchayat across Karnataka
Bengaluru, Dec 22(UNI) Amid Covid-19 scare, voting is underway for 3,019 panchayats in 117 taluks of Karnataka in the first phase of gram panchayat elections on Tuesday.
As per the state government, the election began amid Covid-19 precautionary measures with voters maintaining social distance and masks.
A total of 1.17 lakh candidates are in the fray for 43,238 seats, half of which are reserved for women, poll officials said. Voting began at 0700 hrs and will continue till 1700 hrs in over 23,000 booths.
A total of 4,377 candidates have been elected unopposed already, the officials said.
People who are Covid-19 positive or come under primary/secondary contacts of infected people can vote in the last hour of polling, officials said.