Karnataka urban local body elections 2018: Over 36,03,691 to exercise franchise in over 3,897 polling stations; results on 3 Sept

Over 36,03,691 people are expected to exercise their franchise in over 3,897 polling stations in Karnataka on Friday. Voting in Karnataka urban local body polls began at 7 am and for the first time, the Election Commission has offered NOTA (None Of The Above) option in the ULB polls. Arrangements have been made for election in 102 urban local bodies (ULBs) across Karnataka on Friday, said a poll official on Thursday. “All arrangements, including security, have been made for polling in 102 ULBs on Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm,” State Election Commissioner PN Srinivasulu said. About 40,000 security personnel have been deployed in cities and towns where the civic polls are being held. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in the civic poll. Counting of votes will be taken up on 3 September and most of the results are expected by night or early Tuesday. Though the civic election was earlier scheduled to be held in 105 ULBs, it has been postponed in three of them — Somwarpet, Virajpet and Kushalnagar — due to heavy rains and flash floods early this month in their Kodagu district, about 270km from Bengaluru. [caption id=“attachment_5083551” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AP[/caption] “Election in these three towns will be held after normalcy returns to the district,” said the commissioner. Polling will be held in 2,529 wards spread over 29 city municipalities, 53 town municipalities and 23 town panchayats and in 135 wards of the three city corporations. In all, 8,340 candidates, including 2,306 from the Congress, 2,203 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 1,397 from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) are in the fray for the ULBs, while 814 are contesting in the city corporations, including 135 from Congress, 130 from BJP and 129 from JD(S). The state government has declared holiday for offices, schools and colleges. A total of 36-lakh voters are registered for exercising their franchise in the ULB wards and 13.33 lakh in the three towns of Mysuru, Shivamogga and Tumakuru. In the 2013 ULB elections held in 4,976 seats, the Congress had won 1,960 seats, while BJP and JD-S had won 905 each, while independents bagged the remaining 1,206 seats. Though the JD(S) and the Congress formed a coalition government after the May 12 assembly election threw up a hung House due to a split verdict, the ruling alliance partners are contesting against each other in the ULBs separately. The BJP, which won 104 seats in the 224-member assembly, is contesting against the alliance. The Congress won 80 seats and JD(S) 36 seats in the assembly poll. Elections to about 100 other local bodies, including Bengaluru, will be held after they complete their present term. Click here for LIVE updates on Karnataka Urban Local Body Polls