Bengaluru, April 27 :Even as Karnataka is struggling to contain the massive Covid virus spread, the State Election Commission announced that it was going ahead with elections to 266 wards of eight local bodies in eight districts today as per schedule.

According to the SEC’s directive, elections will be held to 10 local bodies with 266 wards spread over eight districts – Ballari City Corporation in Ballari, Vijayapura Municipal Corporation in Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagaram City Municipal Corporation and Channapatna City Municipal Corporation in Ramanagara district, Gudibande Town Panchayat of Chikkaballapura district, Bhadravathi City Municipal Corporation and Thirthahalli Town Panchayat in Shivamogga district, Beluru City Municipal Council of Hassan district, Madikeri City corporation of Kodagu district and Bidar City Corporation in Bidar.

Among these eight districts, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkballapura, and Ramanagara districts share their borders with Bengaluru city which has recorded more than 20,000 cases.

“Along with these 10 local bodies, there is one ward each in Bidar and Haveri district are facing bypolls. These polls are scheduled to be held on Tuesday ” the circular said.

The SEC maintained that these bodies were going to polls after the High Court had directed to conduct elections, and Covid safety protocols were in place.(UNI)