MYSURU: Besides the delimitation of several wards, and reservation of 31 of the 65 seats of the
Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) council, elections to the ‘Heritage City’s local body will witness another first – the option of None Of The Above (NOTA) on the Electronic Voter Machines (EVMs).
The sudden announcement by the Karnataka Election Commission to hold polls to the
MCC council has resulted in a perceptible spurt in political activities in the city, after a brief lull that followed the assembly elections. Although the JD(S) and
Congress are in an alliance in the legislative assembly, it is unlikely that the two parties, both of which boast a strong presence in the city, will arrive at an electoral arrangement for the local polls. On the other hand, having swept all two urban segments in Mysuru city – Chamaraja and Krishnaraja – BJP will fancy its chances of coming to power in the MCC council for the first time.
Despite having emerged as the single largest party in the 2013 polls to the MCC council, Congress could not stake claim to power, with the JD(S) stitching an alliance with the BJP.
Additional deputy commissioner T Yogesh on Friday said that the notification for the local polls would be issued on Monday. “The final date for filing nominations is August 20. The applications will be scrutinised the next day, while contestants can withdraw their applications on or before August 23,” Yogesh said.
Voting for the MCC council will take place on August 31 from 7am to 5pm. The total number of voters within MCC limits is 7.99 lakh.
Yogesh said that the EC has already appointed returning officers for the polls. “There was some confusion surrounding the appointment of MCC personnel to oversee the elections. So, we have decided to appoint staff from rural areas,” he added.
Contestants will have to compulsorily fill all columns in the affidavit i.e Form 2 of the nomination papers, Yogesh said. “They should strike out columns that are not applicable to them. But, there can be no blank spaces. Each candidate can spend up to Rs 3 lakh,” he said.
Town Municipal Councils elections
Besides elections to the MCC council, polls will also be held to the T Narasipura, Periyapatna and HD Kote town municipial councils (TMCs). The notification for the polls was issued on Friday, and candidates have been given till August 17 to file their nominations. Voting will be held on August 29 from 7am to 5pm.
“Each TMC has 23 wards. But, the number of voters in each taluk is different.,” said Yogesh, adding that NOTA option would not be available in the TMC polls.
MCC commissioner was present alongside Yogesh at the media interaction.
Numbers to remember
Mysuru DC office: 0821 - 2428383
MCC: 0821-2418801
T Narasipura taluk: 08227 – 260210
Periyaptan taluk: 08223 – 273175
HD Kote taluk: 08228 – 255325
