Notification for Phase II polls in K'taka issued

Bangalore, Apr 22: The Karnataka government today issued a notification for the second phase elections to 66 constituencies to be held on May 16 for the 224-seat state assembly. With the issue of notification for the phase two elections, the nomination process has started in the assembly seats spread over 10 districts in Karnataka.

The districts which would go to polls during the second phase include Raichur, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Shimoga, Udupi, Chickmagalur and Dakshina Kannada. The filing of nominations for the second phase would close on April 29 and scrutiny would be done the following day. The last date for withdrawal is May 2. Counting of votes would be taken up on May 25.

The notification for the third and final phase polls would be issued on May 26.

The State government had already issued notification for the first phase of polling to be held on May 10. Tomorrow is the last date for filing of nomination papers for phase one elections.

Police have registered nearly 500 criminal cases so far for alleged violation of the model code of conduct after the Election Commission announced the schedule for holding assembly elections in the state.

The BJP and Congress have already announced their nominees for the 89 assembly seats going to the polls on May 10, while the JD (Secular), Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are yet to release their full list.

More than 300 candidates, including former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumraswamy, have filed their nominations till yesterday.

UNI