Date:28/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/28/stories/2005122807570300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Bijapur Zilla Panchayat likely to be retained by Congress

Staff Correspondent

Janata Dal (S) establishes lead in Indi and Sindagi taluks
BJP fails to retain ground gained during General elections

AIPJD springs surprise

BIJAPUR: While winning majority of seats in the declared results of the zilla and taluk panchayat elections, the Congress has established leads in most seats for which counting of ballot papers is underway.

For the 38-member zilla panchayat, results of 10 seats were announced by 8 p.m., and the Congress has won in seven segments, while the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) have bagged one and two seats respectively. According to the trend available for the remaining seats, the Congress is leading in 16 segments, and the Janata Dal (S) has established lead in eight. The BJP is leading in three and the All-India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) in one seat, according to the last report that came in.

Former zilla panchayat president Yashwantraygouda Patil achieved a hattrick by winning Anjutagi segment on the Congress ticket. President of Bhima Nadi Neeru Horata Samiti Panchappa Kalburgi, who contested with the Janata Dal (S) ticket, won the Halasangi segment in Indi taluk.

Apart from winning 21 seats in the 33-member Bijapur Taluk Panchayat, the Congress gained a comfortable majority in the 20-member Muddebihal Taluk Panchayat by winning 13 seats. The Janata Dal (S) won simple majority in the 33-member Indi Taluk Panchayat. Besides, it is likely to emerge as single largest party in Sindagi Taluk Panchayat. In Basavanabagewadi Taluk Panchayat, it is close race between the Congress and the BJP. Of the 14 seats declared so far, both parties have won seven seats each.