'Mandate, a fitting reply to Govt's critics'

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JUNE 9. The massive mandate the ruling Congress(I) received in the elections to the zilla and taluk panchayats is a fitting reply to those who criticised that the Government, under the spell of information technology, had ignored the problems of the rural people, the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, said here today.

Without naming any party, he said there was widespread propaganda inside and outside the Legislature about the performance and functioning of the Government in the last eight months. The mandate made it necessary and inevitable for the Opposition parties now to cooperate with the Government and its programmes.

Thanking the people on behalf of the party of which he is also the State unit president, Mr. Krishna said the verdict had given a new confidence, and the Government would work with greater enthusiasm to make the lives of the rural people more meaningful.

Mr. Krishna told presspersons that of the 889 seats in the zilla panchayats, the Congress(I) had bagged 649 seats against 41 of the BJP, 80 of JD(S), 73 of JD(U), four of CPI(M), one of BSP and 41 independents. In the taluk panchayats, of the 3,252 seats, the tally of various parties was: Congress: 2,099, BJP:249, JD(S): 300, JD(U): 357, CPI(M)-seven and independents: 238.

Referring to the comment that the results were not up to the expectations with district ministers being in charge of the elections, Mr. Krishna said they were there only to ensure smooth working and ultimately it was the people and the workers on whom the party depended.

According to Mr. Krishna, the ruling party has established majority in 26 of the 27 zilla panchayats and 135 of the 175 taluk panchayats. The JD(S) had majority in Mysore Zilla Panchayat. There was a tie in four taluk panchayats.

Mr. Krishna did not agree that the Congress(I) victory was because of the division of the Opposition parties. They were not fighting. ``Except the JD(S), they are in the NDA,'' he quipped.

As far as reservation for the posts of president and vice- president of the zilla and taluk panchayats was concerned, Mr. Krishna said homework was going on in the Rural Development Ministry and an announcement would be made at the appropriate time based on guidelines. He had a dig at the Opposition which had sought advance announcement of reservation and said he was asking it not to insist on it as it would have no role to play in it.

About the Government divesting the State Election Commission of the powers to make reservation and delimitation of constituencies, the Chief Minister said this had not resulted in any blunder.

Asked if he would step down as president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress(I) Committee as he was able to achieve an unprecedented mandate, Mr. Krishna said he had placed himself at the disposal of the Congress High Command. ``It is they who have to make up their mind, but my position remains unchanged regardless of the mandate,'' Mr. Krishna added.

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Section  : Southern States
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