Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that due to multi-preferential voting, ballot papers will be used during the elections scheduled to be held in the district on May 29. This will be deviation of the usual practice of using Electronic Voting Machines.

Addressing a press meet on the upcoming gram panchayat elections on Thursday, May 7, he said, the last date for candidates to submit applications is May 18 and the last date for withdrawing nominations is May 21. The elections would be conducted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The counting would take place on June 5.

The DC informed that the model code of conduct will come into effect from May 10 and is applicable to the jurisdiction of all Gram Panchayats. However, it is not applicable for organizing cultural or religious programmes and other celebrations such as marriages, birthdays etc.