CHIKMAGALUR: There are 615 candidates in the fray for the 34 zilla panchayat seats and 110 taluk panchayat seats in Chikmagalur district for which elections will be conducted in the first phase on December 19.

Of the 292 persons who had filed their nomination papers for the zilla panchayat seats, 129 withdrew their papers on Saturday, the last day for withdrawal. As many as 213 candidates decided to withdraw from the contest in seven taluk panchayats in the district leaving 452 candidates in the fray.

There are 11 candidates for two zilla panchayat seats from N.R. Pura taluk, 16 candidates for three seats from Koppa taluk, 10 candidates for two seats from Sringeri taluk, 22 candidates for five zilla panchayat seats from Mudigere taluk, 38 candidates for eight seats from Kadur taluk, 28 candidates for seven seats from Tarikere taluk and 38 persons for the seven zilla panchayat seats from Chikmagalur taluk. The highest number of candidates contesting the taluk panchayat elections is in Chikmagalur taluk panchayat where 82 persons will contest for 20 seats. This is followed by Kadur and Tarikere taluk panchayats with 80 candidates each. N.R. Pura, with 41 candidates for 10 taluk panchayat seats, has the lowest.

Voters in Melinahuluvathi village and surrounding hamlets in Chikmagalur taluk have decided to boycott the polls to protest against the apathy of officials and elected representatives in repairing bridges.

Two bridges on the road leading to the village were damaged in heavy rain more than six months ago. The area is situated in a remote place adjoining the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, and people, including schoolchildren, are forced to walk for 10 km through thick forests to reach their houses.

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