Thursday, December 22 2005 15:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: The stage is set for the second phase of Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections to be held in 13 districts in Karnataka tomorrow (Dec 23, 2005) for which the state election commission has made elaborate arrangements.

Elections will be held for 510 Zilla Panchayat seats and 1905 Taluk Panchayat seats in 87 Taluks involving 9995 aspirants from Congress, JDS, All India Progressive Janata Dal BJP, BSP, left parties Samajwadi party and independents.

An estimated 1.42 crore electorate are eligible to cast their votes.

The ruling coalition partners Congress and JDS have been crossing swords to gain control over majority of Zilla and Taluk panchayats.

Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, KPCC President Mallikarjun Kharge, JDS chief H D Deve Gowda and AIPJD leader Siddaramaiah have undertaken vigorous electioneering in all the districts.

The major worry for JDS is the challenge posed by its rebel leader Siddaramaiah, whose fledgling All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) has not only fielded 652 candidates, but has declared support to Congress in places where it has not contested.

About 70,000 security personnel will keep a vigil on over 33,000 polling states in the districts of Bangalore City, Bangalore Rural, Tumkur, Kolar, Bijapur, Raichur, Bidar, Bagalkot, Bellary, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Gulbarga and Koppal.

In the first phase elections were held in 14 districts on December 19.

Votes would be counted on December 27.