Karnataka assembly polls to be held on May 5

IANS/New Delhi

Karnataka will hold assembly elections on May 5, the Election Commission announced yesterday.

Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said the counting of votes will take place on May 8.

The notification for the election would be issued on April 10 and the last date of filing nominations would be on April 14.

The scrutiny of nominations papers would take place on April 18, the last date for withdrawal of candidates would be on April 20 and the entire poll process would be completed by May 11, Sampath said.

The term of the existing legislative assembly expires on June 3.

The total number of assembly constituencies in Karnataka is 224 with 36 seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes.

According to the final published electoral rolls, the state has 4,18,75,267 voters. The CEC said voters will be identified through electoral photo identity cards.

The polls would be conducted in all polling stations using electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The commission has already made arrangements to ensure availability of adequate number of EVMs, Sampath said.

Based on the commission’s assessment of the law and order situation, central police forces and state armed police forces from other states will be deployed during the elections.

The commission will deploy general observers in adequate numbers, he said. The observers will be asked to keep a close watch on every stage of the electoral process to ensure free and fair polls.