Gone are the days when politicians were the only ones who made a mockery of democracy.Ahead of the first phase of gram panchayat (GP) elections due on May 29, bidding for the seats is happening in broad daylight in many parts of north Karnataka.Deccan Chronicle reports that bidding for GP membership are coming from Ballari, Koppal and Raichur districts where aspirants are promising a few lakhs to the villagers to get elected unopposed. The bidding price for seats reserved for general category seats is high compared to those reserved for scheduled caste and tribes.According to the villagers, the bidding price will be used to build a new temple, repair an old one, build a community hall for a particular caste or even purchase land for a newly created GP office.In Junjalakoppa village of Chalageri gram panchayat in Kushtagi taluk of Koppal, villagers have fixed a price of Rs 3 lakh each for two seats and aspirants can bid for the seat quoting above the base price of Rs 3 lakh. In Habalakatti village, villagers have fixed the bidding price at Rs 1 lakh for a seat, whereas in Ganadalu gram panchayat, the villagers have resolved to elect nine members unopposed.Read more at: What's on auction in Ballary now? Panchayat seats!