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The elections saw hectic campaigning by political leaders from all three major parties — BJP, Congress and the JD(S) — with party leaders camping in their respective constituencies for almost a month to campaign for their nominees, although these polls are apolitical technically, not fought on party tickets.
The State Election Commission held polling to 5,728 panchayats across 226 taluks in two phases, amid concerns over the spread of Covid. Although the election was largely peaceful and the SEC had put in place mechanisms as a precaution against Covid, people defied Covid norms like social-distancing and wearing of masks, adding to the worry of the health department. Bengaluru Urban, known for its poor voting reputation, saw 73.5% turnout, as villages on the city outskirts queued up to cast their votes. A total of 29.7 million people were eligible to vote in the polls to elect 92,121 gram panchayat members. All eyes are now on the election results scheduled for December 30.
Though their party symbols were not used, political parties and leaders aggressively campaigned in the elections to help their candidates to win so as to assert their dominance in constituencies. Parties deployed people and resources as the local body polls presented an opportunity to groom future leaders. The ruling BJP has been hoping to perform well in the polls, banking on the ‘good work’ done by the Central government and the fund allocation to panchayats. The BJP also sees the GP elections as an opportunity to make foray into the hinterlands dominated by the Congress and the JD(S), for instance, the Old Mysuru region.
As for the Congress, weeks before the election, AICC general secretary Randeep Sujrewala who is in-charge of Karnataka, had appealed to the party leaders to keep their personal interests aside and fight unitedly.
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