Cong. likely to get power in 21 civic bodies

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 9. The Congress is likely to come to power on its own in 21 of the 49 urban local bodies election (second phase) to which was held on Sunday.

The results announced on Monday showed that it has won in only half of the 730 wards in which it had fielded its candidates. The BJP, which had fielded 440 candidates, has been able to secure the second place with 102 of its candidates making the mark. Among the other parties which contested, the Janata Dal(S) has scored over the Janata Dal(U) by winning in 85 wards against 50 by the latter.

The independents, as in the first phase of the election, have performed well winning in 133 wards. Now, they hold the key to the formation of councils.

All the parties have fared badly in the H.D.Kote Town Panchayat in Mysore District where the Congress has won only one seat in the 11-member panchayat. The tally of the other parties is BJP 2, CPI(M) 1, Janata Dal(U) 2 and Janata Dal(S) 1. The remaining seats have been won by independents.

In the four city municipal councils and one town municipal council in Bangalore Urban District, the Congress has failed to win majority in any one of them. In the T.Dasarahalli CMC, results were yet to be announced for two wards. In Ward No.5, the result was withheld as per court orders and re-election for the Polling Booth No. 21 in Ward No. 10 will be held on Tuesday, according to the Bangalore Urban District Deputy Commissioner, Mr. D. S. Aswath.

Setback

The Congress suffered a major setback in its stronghold, Sandur Town Panchayat, which is the hometown and constituency of Mr. M. Y. Ghorpade, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, while it triumphed in neighbouring Kudligi Town Panchayat. The Congress suffered humiliating defeats in the town panchayat election in Gulbarga district losing the race to a resurgent Janata Dal(U) in Chincholi and a forum of independent candidates in Afzalpur. In Jewargi, the home constituency of the Public Works Minister, Mr. Dharam Singh, the party emerged as the single largest group.

Of the 15 seats at stake in Afzalpur, election was held for 11 seats, since four candidates - three of the Congress and one Independent - were elected unopposed. Of the 11 wards, the Congress won in four, while the Vedike-sponsored independent candidates won the rest.

BJP wins

The BJP has got majority in the Aurad Town Panchayat. Of the 14 seats there, the BJP has secured eight and the Congress six.

Though the Congress secured an absolute majority in the Periyapatna Town Panchayat, it suffered a setback in H. D. Kote and T. Narasipur town panchayats.

Of the 13 seats in Periyapatna Town Panchayat, the Congress has won nine and the Janata Dal(S) four. The BJP drew a blank though Mr. Basavaraj of the party represents Periyapatna in the Legislative Assembly.

In T. Narsipur, the Congress and the Janata Dal(S) have bagged four seats each and independents have emerged triumphant in three wards. With no party winning six seats required for a simple majority in the House, the support of the independents has become crucial.

A mixed bag

The results of two town panchayats in Hassan District have come as a mixed bag to the Congress. While the party has a simple majority in Alur Town Panchayat winning six of the 11 seats, it requires the support of at least two of the four independents in Arkalgud where it has won six of the 14 seats.

The Congress has bagged two of the three town panchayats in Davangere district.

Though it has won the Chennagiri Town Panchayat with a clear majority, it was lucky to win the Honnali Town Panchayat where its candidate in Ward No. 10 was declared winner on draw of lots as he and another candidate got the same number of votes.

The Congress has emerged the single largest party in the Jagalur Town Panchayat. It has won six of the 13 seats in there while the Janata Dal(U) and independents have won three seats each. The Janata Dal(S) has won a seat here.

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