2-phase elections for GPs, voting compulsory; Polling in DK, Udupi, UK on May 29

May 6, 2015

Bengaluru, May 6: Elections to 5,844 gram panchayats in Karnataka will be held in two phases on May 29 and June 2. For the first time, voting has been made mandatory in these elections. Another unique feature is that more than 50 per cent candidates will be women.

Announcing the dates, state Election Commissioner P N Sreenivasachari said on Tuesday that of the 6,073 gram panchayats, 5,844 will elect 94,458 members. The term of the members of the remaining 229 gram panchayats will end in August this year.

Sreenivasachari said that 2.81 crore people will cast their votes at 38,604 polling stations across the state. There will be 1.93 lakh polling officials. The cost of conducting the elections will be around Rs 66 crore.

Sreenivasachari said, “We have issued a circular to the deputy commissioners to ensure compulsory voting. We shall send another reminder.” There will be no ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) option for voters, while the candidates will have no expenditure limitations, he explained.

He said the model code of conduct will come into force from 8 am on May 10 and end on June 7.

The code will be applicable only in gram, taluk and zila panchayat limits across the state.

The code will not be in place in Urban Local?Bodies?(ULBs), including in the State capital—Bengaluru City.

Elections will be held on a non-party basis and a total of 94,458 GP members will be elected by an electorate of 2.81 crore during the two phases of polling. Fifty per cent of the seats are reserved for women.

Polling will not be held in 229 GPs as their tenure will end after August 2015, said Srinivasachari.

During the first phase, on May 29, polling will be held in 15 districts—Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya,?Chamarajnagara,?Udupi, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Haveri, Bagalkote, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad and Gadag.

During the second phase, on June 2, polling will be held in the remaining 15 districts—Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Bidar, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur and Koppala.

For the first time, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in GPs falling under the jurisdiction of Bidar district.

As many 9.5 lakh voters across 1,150 polling stations in the district can exercise the franchise through EVMs. Ballot papers will be used in all the other districts.

As many as 1.93 lakh polling officials will be involved in the electoral process, and the total cost to the exchequer will be Rs 66 crore.

Srinivasachari said deputy commissioners will launch campaigns across the state to convey that voting is compulsory in the panchayat polls.

While GP elections are not fought on party symbols, the polls are crucial for all political parties as they become the foundation for fighting the taluk and zilla panchayat elections, which will be held next year.

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Mangaluru NRI returning from Saudi Arabia arrested over Instagram post

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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