Cong. performance in Karnataka civic polls below par

By S. K. Ramoo

BANGALORE, MAY 11. The optimism exuded by the Congress leadership in Karnataka that the party would sweep the elections to the urban local bodies in the State has been belied. But the number of Congress candidates who have won the elections is higher than the number of successful candidates from the Janata Dal factions and the BJP. The party's below par performance has shocked the leaders of the BJP State unit who expected a much better performance.

According to figures released by the State Election Commission, the Congress captured 68 out of the 148 local bodies which went to the polls. Its biggest disappointment was its failure to capture any of the four prestigious municipal corporations - Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad, Gulbarga and Belgaum. In the elections to the Belgaum Corporation, the Congress did not contest on its party symbol as it had joined the pro-Kannada groups against the pro-Marathi syndicate, which included the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena's ability to secure a firm foothold in Belgaum is a disturbing development. However, with the support of the rebel Congress candidates and independents, the party is likely to gain control of some corporations. The voting power extended to the local legislators and MPs will prove to be a big advantage for the Congress. Given the backdrop of the disarray among the Opposition parties, the Congress performance could have been better.

The State BJP leadership, which was confident before the polls, was in a for a severe jolt. The party was pushed to the fourth position in many places. However, the party's surprise win in the Bellary City Municipal Council (CMC), where it dislodged the Congress, provided some consolation.

The defeat of the Congress in Bellary was indeed a severe blow to the image of the KPCC president, Mr. Allum Veerabhadrappa, who hails from Bellary district. The Bellary CMC falls within the Bellary Lok Sabha constituency from where the AICC president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, won. She later vacated it in favour of Amethi. Ms. Sonia Gandhi is said to have conveyed her dismay and disappointment over the party's debacle.

The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, struck a rather sombre note over the poll results while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday. He observed stoically that the party would take in its stride both the triumphs and the failures.

He, however, did not hide his disappointment over the party's shocking defeat in Bellary. The image of Mr. Krishna did not suffer as the Congress captured a majority of the urban local bodies in his native district of Mandya.

The ugly spectacle of horse-trading has already started. The State Congress leadership, instead of expelling the rebel candidates who won, is sure to take their support to gain control of several local bodies. Many of the large number of successful Independent candidates are expected to support the Congress.

The Congress performance in the elections to the urban local bodies, compared to the earlier elections to the Assembly and panchayat raj bodies, is not all that impressive. The outcome is a warning bell to the Chief Minister and the rest of the State Congress leadership.

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Section  : Southern States
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