Mangaluru : As many as 7,619 candidates, including 3,604 women, are in fray for the May 29 elections to 227 gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada district and 4,740 candidates are contesting the elections in Udupi district.

According to a release from the office of the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner, 109 candidates have been elected unopposed. Of them, 44 candidates are in Mangaluru taluk, 34 in Bantwal taluk, 14 in Sullia taluk, nine in Puttur and eight are in Bantwal taluk.

Elections would be held to 3,288 seats of the total 3,399 seats. No nominations have been filed for two seats in Malluru gram panchayat in Mangaluru taluk. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has appointed observers to the district for the smooth conduct of elections.

P.L. Jyothindra, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and managing director, Pandavapura Cooperative Sugar Factory, will be the observer for Mangaluru sub-division. He will be staying at the Kadri circuit house in the city and may be contacted through email -jyothindra.me@gmail.comor phone 9480827001.

Malleshiah, Special Land Acquisition Officer, NHAI, Bengaluru, Nelamangala and Kunigal sections will be the observer for Puttur sub-division. He would be staying at the Puttur Inspection Bunglow and may be contacted through email –slaonelamangala@gmail.comor phone 9481553835.

An official press release said that there are 2,082 candidates in Udupi taluk, 1,693 candidates in Kundapur taluk and 965 candidates in Karkala taluk in Udupi district.

There are 2,398 seats in 155 gram panchayats in the district including 62 in Kundapur taluk, 59 in Udupi taluk and 34 in Karkala taluk.

However, 272 candidates have been elected unopposed. This includes 142 candidates in Kundapur taluk, 90 candidates in Udupi taluk and 40 candidates in Karkala taluk.

Hence, elections would be held for a total of 2,126 seats in the district, including 733 seats in Kundapur taluk, 941 seats in Udupi taluk and 452 seats in Karkala taluk. The counting of votes would take place on June 5.