Single phase elections on May 5 in Karnataka

New Delhi  :  Karnataka will go for a single-phase assembly elections on May 5, the Election Commission announced Wednesday.

Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath said the counting of votes will take place May 8.

The notification for the election would be issued on April 10 and the last date of filing nominations would be April 14.

The scrutiny of nominations papers would take place on April 18, the last date for withdrawal of candidates would be April 20 and the entire poll process would be completed by May 11, Sampath said.

The term of the existing legislative assembly expires on June 3.

The total number of assembly constituencies in Karnataka is 224 with 36 seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes.

As per the final published electoral rolls, total electors in the state are 4,18,75,267.

The CEC said voters who have been issued electoral photo identity cards will be identified through these only. At present, the photo identity card coverage in Karnataka is 98.37 percent.

The polls would be conducted in all polling stations using electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The commission has already made arrangements to ensure availability of adequate number of EVMs for smooth conduct of elections, Sampath said.

Based on the commission’s assessment of the law and order situation, central police forces and state armed police forces from other states will be deployed during the ensuing assembly elections.

The commission will deploy general observers in adequate numbers to ensure smooth conduct of elections. The observers will be asked to keep a close watch on every stage of the electoral process to ensure free and fair polls.

Sampath said: “To deal with paid news, a mechanism has been laid out with three-tier media certification and monitoring committee at district, state and ECI level”.

All critical events will be videographed. District election officers will arrange sufficient number of video and digital cameras and camera teams for the purpose, he said.