Friday, December 23 2005 19:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: The second phase of Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections held in thirteen districts of Karnataka today (Dec 23, 2005) went off peacefully with about 70 per cent of the 1.42 crore eligible voters casting their ballot.

"Barring some minor incidents, the polling ended by and large on a peaceful note", Karnataka State Election Commissioner M R Hegde told reporters here.

On the basis of initial reports repolling has been ordered in 32 polling booths where some poll related malpractices like pouring of water, ink and soap power into ballot boxes has been reported, he said.

The number of booths where repolling could be necessitated was likely to increase, he indicated.

"Repolling will be held on December 26,"Hegde said.

"In some polling stations it was defective ballot papers that has forced the commission to order repoll," Hegde said.

Election was held for 510 zilla panchayat and 1905 taluk panchayat seats in 13 districts of Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Tumkur, Kolar, Bijapur, Raichur, Bidar, Bagalkot, Bellary, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Gulbarga and Koppal.

The poll fate of 9995 candidates was sealed in ballot boxes today. In the first phase, 14 districts went to polls on December 19.

The votes would be counted on December 27.