Mysuru:  Even as the Assembly elections have concluded and a new government is in place, Karnataka is bracing up for yet another election in September and this time for the local bodies. As the State is at present being governed by JD(S)-Congress combine, it will be interesting to note how both parties will contest the local body elections and to what extent they will do go to grab power or make adjustments.

Elections for the 116 local bodies, including the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and a couple of other City Corporations are slated for September and the Election Commission (EC) is likely to announce poll  schedule in August. The MCC, at present is being governed by JD(S)-BJP combine and its term will end on Sept. 5.

NEW VOTERS LIST

Preparing itself months ahead for the election, the MCC has readied and finalised a new ward-wise voters list (as per the new delimitation exercise) and has sent it to the Deputy Commissioner for approval this morning. The DC is expected to give his green signal by today evening and following his approval, a notification will be issued.

Once notified, the revised voters list will be published and objections will be invited from public. Later, after the process is complete, the list will be sent to the Election Commission.

Along with the MCC, in Mysuru elections will be held for T. Narasipur, Periyapatna and H.D. Kote Town Municipal Councils (TMC). All the three TMCs have 23 wards each. The EC had directed the District Administration to prepare the electoral rolls by June 11 (today) and invite objections.

The EC will announce the electoral rolls by June 27 following which the number of staff to be deputed for election duty will be decided. The EC has also directed the District Administration to keep sufficient number of EVMs ready.

WARD BOUNDARIES: The 65-Member MCC was revamped recently with the authorities delimiting the wards based on population. Although the number of wards had not increased with delimitation, the authorities have brought several areas in the outskirts of the city to MCC limits.

According to MCC officials, boundaries of wards were redrawn in accordance with the 74th Amendment of the Constitution which stipulates change in reservation and altering the contours of wards to ensure even distribution of population.

After delimitation, each of the 65 wards has 13,000 and 15,000 voters. The delimitation exercise has ensured uniformity in the number of residents and voters in each ward. Officials said that they had prepared a sketch of revised boundaries in August last year in the run up to the local bodies election and had sent it to Urban Development Department for approval.

ELECTION OBSERVERS

In order to monitor the election expenditure of candidates, the EC will appoint Poll Expenditure Observers who will submit details of expenditure to the EC through the poll officer. A team of auditors from the Public Accounts Department will verify election expenditure statements.

The EC has also instructed the local authorities to source the stationary required for the elections locally. However, the EC will provide covers, sealing wax, indelible ink, etc.

Out of the 116 local bodies going to polls in September, three are City Corporations, 29 CMCs (City Municipal Councils), 56 Town Municipal Councils (TMC) and 28 Town Panchayats. Apart from the elections to the MCC and 3 CMCs in Mysuru district, polls will also be held for Chamarajanagar and Kollegal CMCs, Mandya CMC, Maddur, Pandavapura and Nagamangala TMCs and Bellur Town Panchayat.  As far as Kodagu District is concerned, polls will be held for Kushalnagar, Virajpet and Somwarpet TMCs.