Our Bureau Karnataka will vote to elect a new State Assembly on May 12, and results will be declared on May 15, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat announced on Tuesday. The elections will be held in a single phase.
The Model Code of Conduct for candidates, parties and the incumbent government, comes into immediate effect, Rawat said. It will be applicable to the Centre and the State government with regard to announcements and policy decisions pertaining to and for Karnataka. The code also bars candidates from using unfair means to influence voters.
The term of the current, 224-member, Assembly expires on May 28. Karnataka has 4.96 crore eligible voters.
“The Commission has prepared the schedule for elections after taking into consideration all relevant aspects like climatic conditions, academic calendar, major festivals, prevailing law and order situation in the State, availability of Central police forces, time needed for movement, transportation and timely deployment of forces and an in-depth assessment of other relevant ground realities,” said Rawat, addressing a press conference.
He said the Commission had decided to conduct the polls on a single day as this is what the political parties wanted.
The last date for filing of nominations is April 24, while April 27 is the last date for withdrawal of candidatures. The CEC said Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) will be used in all the polling stations in the State.
At 56,696, Karnataka will have 9 per cent more polling stations than in the 2013 elections. Campaign expenses for each candidate has been capped at ₹28 lakh.
For the first time 224 women managed polling stations will be set up in the State.