Bangalore, Apr 5: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy on Saturday appealed to the political parties in Karnataka to use eco-friendly materials while campaigning for the forthcoming State Assembly election.

Gopalaswamy told reporters that he has sought cooperation of all parties in avoiding plastic materials during the Assembly election campaigns.

In the meeting with political parties yesterday, the CEC observed that, the main concern of parties was bar on use of banners and bunting as per the provisions of Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act 1981.

He clarified that by Monday the commission will issue guidelines on display of buntings and banners. He, however, said that in public meetings the parties can use them but must ensure their removal after the meeting.

The CEC alongwith two Election Commissioners S Y Qureshi and Navin Chawla has arrived here on a two-day visit review preparations for the Assembly elections.

During the visit, the team will review the steps initiated by the electoral authorities for the conduct of polls on May 10, 16 and 22 in 224 Assembly segments. The counting of votes will take place on May 25.

As per electoral rolls, there are around 40,077,666 electors of which 20,399,338 are male and 19,678,328 female.

The EC has planned to set up 39,758 polling stations in the state, besides, the District Election Officers (DEO) have been authorized to propose setting up of auxiliary polling stations wherever needed from voter’s convenience point of view.

For the facility of disabled persons, instructions have been issued to ensure that all polling stations are located at ground floor and ramps are provided. As many as 36 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and 15 for Scheduled Tribes (ST).

The notification for the first phase of polls will be issued on April 16 and the last date of filing of nominations will be April 23. Scrutiny will be done the next day and last date of withdrawal will be April 26.

For the second phase, nominations will begin on April 22 and will end on April 29 followed by scrutiny the next day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations will be May 2.

Nominations in the final phase will begin on April 26 and the last date for nominations will be May 3. Scrutiny will take place on May 5 and the last date for withdrawal will be May 7. (ANI)