215 candidates file papers on the last day

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, December 21: As many as 215 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the 35 seats of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat that is going to polls on December 31. As many as 575 people have filed their papers for 129 seats in the five taluk panchayats. Monday was the last day for filing nomination papers.

According to an official release, Mangalore leads in the number of persons who have filed nominations for the zilla and taluk panchayat elections. While 60 have filed for the 10 zilla panchayat seats, there are 173 candidates for the taluk panchayat seats.

Fifty eight candidates have filed nominations for the nine zilla panchayat seats in Bantwal taluk, 30 for six seats in Belthangady taluk, 41 for six seats in Puttur taluk and 26 for four zilla panchayat seats in Sullia taluk. There are 130 candidates for 33 taluk panchayat seats in Bantawal taluk, 112 for 24 seats in Belthangady taluk, 106 for 22 seats in Puttur taluk and 54 for 13 seats in Sullia taluk.

With more than one candidate from parties filing nominations for many seats, the number of candidates from political parties exceeds the number of seats.

Thus there are 64 candidates from the BJP for 35 zilla panchayat seats, while 58 are from the Congress. There are 34 from the Janata Dal (Secular), 17 from Social Democratic Party of India, three from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one from the Bahujan Samaj Party. There are 195 BJP candidates for the 129 taluk panchayat seats followed by 182 from the Congress, and 85 from the JD(S). thehindu