Bangalore: The first phase of polling in the hard-fought panchayat elections in the State passed off peacefully barring some minor incidents of violence and "booth capturing" at Bellur in Nagamangala taluk of Mandya district and Alur and Holenarsipura in Hassan district following what was described as lapses committed by the returning officers concerned. Ballot boxes were taken away and burnt in K.R. Nagar taluk in Mysore district.

Message

State Election Commissioner M.R. Hegde sent a message to the angry voters admitting that there was a lapse on the part of the officials concerned and promising a repoll in a few polling stations, if necessary. The crowd dispersed with police intervention. Later, the Election Commissioner ordered a repoll in 22 polling stations in Mandya, Mysore and Hassan districts on Friday.

Sources in the Election Commission told The Hindu that the average polling percentage was 65. They said the highest percentage of 75 was recorded in Chamarajanagar district and the lowest of 58 in Kodagu district. The polling percentage was much below 77 per cent recorded in the gram panchayat elections in February last. It was far below the expectations of the election authorities and political parties.

In certain pockets, because of local problems, particularly those of poor roads and disruption in electricity and water supply, people were in no mood to vote.

At Bellur in Mandya district, the complaints of the people largely pertained to impersonation. They also said representatives of a few political parties along with voters took away a few ballot boxes and ballot papers. Based on a report from the Deputy Commissioner, who said the ballot papers may have been used in polling stations nearby, the election authorities ordered a repoll. In K.R. Nagar, miscreants snatched ballot boxes at Hebbalu, Kathnalu and Chandagalu, and set them ablaze.

In politically sensitive districts, particularly Mandya and Hassan, the polling percentage peaked in the forenoon. There was not much response to appeals by election agents of political parties to people to cast their votes.

Negligence

Mr. Hegde told The Hindu that negligence on the part of returning officers caused confusion at Alur and Holenarsipur in Hassan district.

On Monday, polling was conducted in 14 of the 27 districts, which has 1.25 crore voters. Polling will held in the rest of the districts on Friday. Counting of votes is scheduled for December 27.

The districts (other than Chamarajanagar and Kodagu) where polling was held in the first phase are (the polling percentage is given in brackets): Dakshina Kannada (65), Uttara Kannada (61), Chikmagalur (62), Shimoga (65), Udupi (66), Hassan (65), Mysore (60), Mandya (65), Belgaum (65), Dharwad (63), Gadag (59) and Haveri (61).

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