Hubli-Dharwad, including Belgaum district, has over 17 lakh voters who will decide the future of 1,105 nominees contesting from 195 wards.
Only 53.81% polling has been recorded this time in the twin-cities against 66% in the previous local elections; 420 contestants are battling it out in 82 divisions of the city corporation.
Hubli-Dharwad, including Belgaum district, has over 17 lakh voters who will decide the future of 1,105 nominees contesting from 195 wards. The counting of votes will take place on September 6.
The previous election was held on March 07, 2013, for 67 wards, reports India.com.
Dharwad deputy commissioner and district returning officer Nitesh Patil said that the elections are strictly adhering to Covid-19 protocols and guidelines.
Hubli-Dharwad polls held peacefully
Apart from some minor incidents, the voting went peacefully throughout the day. People boycotted polling demanding vvpats at five polling booths of Gamanagatti village that falls under ward-28 in Hubli.
The change of guard in the state confused the candidates as to whom to approach for the tickets.
Many aspirants who were denied the ticket by their respective parties contested the election as Independent candidates.
And surprisingly, they were approached by senior leaders to withdraw from the contest. Nearly a dozen dissidents each from the BJP and Congress have thrown their hat in the ring, upsetting the calculations of their party superiors.
Two-time corporator and former deputy mayor Laxmi Uppar fought as a rebel in ward 47, while Vijaykumar Appaji and former mayor Manjula Akkur fought as Independents in wards 28 and 26.
Many wards reserved for lady candidates
Problems arose when most of the wards this time were reserved for lady candidates. So the wives of the present corporators got into the fray for the ticket.
Congress leaders, too, faced discord in the party’s ranks. In Dharwad, Shaheen Haveripet, former corporator Yaseen Haveripet’s wife, contested as a rebel from ward 6. Former mayor Venkatesh Mestri’s wife Chandrika was declared the Congress candidate for ward No 56 but was denied ‘B’ form. As a result, Chandrika contested the election as a rebel.
