About 3,697 candidates were elected unopposed even as the 2,709 panchayats in Karnataka will go for polling in the second phase of Gram Panchayat elections on Sunday, poll officials said. Polling began at 7 am and will be held till 5 pm in over 20,728 booths. Polling for 3,019 panchayats in 117 taluks was held in the first phase on December 22 and voter turnout was registered at a whopping 82%. These Panchayat polls are not (officially) fought on party lines and no party symbols are used. Although Bengaluru has a notorious reputation for not turning out for voting, surprisingly during Afirst phase gram panchayat polls, more than 90% voter turnout was registered, which is a record of sorts as far as Bengaluru is concerned.

Source: dna December 27, 2020 01:52 UTC