Mangaluru : The first phase of Gram Panchayat elections Polling has commenced in the district on December 22, Tuesday 7am.

Voters enthusiastically exercise their right. Elections are held in 106 Gram Panchayats of Mangaluru, Bantwal and Moodbidri taluks.

In Mangaluru taluk 14.6% polling percentage was registered by 10 am while the percentage of polling was 15.64% in Moodbidri and 13.75% in Bantwal taluk. Overall the polling percentage was 14.48% in the district by 10 am.

All Covid related guidelines are strictly adhered to in the elections. Former minister B Ramanatha Rai exercised his franchise at a polling booth at Todambila School in Kallige Gram Panchayat limits. MLA U T Khader exercised his franchise at the Jaradagudde polling booth in Boliyar.

Voting is held in a total of 1681 GP constituences. So far 50 have been elected unopposed while a total of 3845 candidates are in the fray.