He is passing the voters of the constituencies to get special casual leave today

Staff leaving for their polling stations after collecting voting equipment from the assembly center set up at Lamington School in Hubballi on Thursday. | Photo credit: KIRAN BAKALE

To enable eligible voters to cast their votes during polling in Karnataka West Graduate Council Constituency elections scheduled for Friday, a one-day special casual holiday will be granted.

According to a statement by Regional Commissioner of Belagavi Division and Returning Officer for Constituency KM Janaki, the special casual leave will be approved subject to the prior approval of the employer.

She said all Assistant Returning Officers and Deputy Commissioners in the constituency have been instructed to take necessary steps to facilitate voting to eligible voters employed in institutions, educational institutions, departments and organizations in accordance with Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The instructions were issued in accordance with the government’s announcement on Saturday, she added.

Holiday

Meanwhile, in view of the biennial elections, government offices, schools and colleges, which house 137 polling stations in Dharwad, Haveri, Uttara Kannada and Gadag districts, remain closed on Thursday. There will also be a holiday during Friday’s voting.

The two-day holiday has been declared to facilitate the smooth conduct of the election process and maintain law and order, an official notification said.

Published – 22 Oct 2026 19:26 IST