The Commissioner of Karnataka Election Commission C R Chikkmath announced that Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections will be held in two phases on December 26 and 31st. Speaking to the media persons in Bangalore on Monday, Chikkmath said Election code of conduct will be effective from today midnight. In the each phase, 15 districts will go to poll. The counting is scheduled on January 4th. For the first time the reservation limit for women has been enhanced from 33 percent to 50 percent and Electronic Voting machines are brought into use at this level for the first time. As per the Supreme Court order the total reservation to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes has been limited to 50% of total seats available. A number of court cases were fought on this issue as the OBCs stand to lose many number of seats in the new arrangement. 1013 Zilla Panchayats and 3659 Taluk Panchayats are going to poll. The number of electorate to caste their votes are more than two crores 67 lakh 87 thousand.