Date:20/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/20/stories/2008022054160300.htm

Karnataka

Congress plans could go awry

Special Correspondent

Elections for posts of Bhadravati CMC president, vice-president today

Three Congress councillors decide to support JD(S)
‘They have been moved to an undisclosed place’

BHADRAVATI: The decision of three Congress councillors to support Janata Dal (Secular) nominee appears to have deprived the Congress of its chances to occupy the posts of president and vice-president in the Bhadravati City Municipal Council, elections for which will be held on Wednesday.

The Congress has 18 seats in the 35-member CMC, while the Janata Dal (S) and the Bharatiya Janata Party have 13 and 2 seats respectively. Two independents have also been elected to the CMC.

Expectations of the Congress that it would ride to power in the council without any problem by the virtue of winning a clear majority now seem to have been belied with its three councillors — Sheikh Mehabood Sab, Savitramma and B.K. Devika — deciding to support the Janata Dal (S) nominee, accepting the proposal of former MLA from Bhadravati M.J. Appaji.

The three councillors are reported to have decided to violate the whip issued by the Congress to its councillors and throw their lot with the Janata Dal (S).

As a result, the strength of the Congress has been reduced to 15 and that of the Janata Dal (S) has risen to 16. This has brightened the hopes of the Janata Dal (S) to wrest power with the help of two independents.

The only hope for the Congress to counter Janata Dal (S) move is to seek the support of two BJP councillors which appears to be a remote possibility under the present circumstances. It is said that even if Shimoga MP S. Bangarappa casts his vote it would not help the Congress.

The post of the CMC president has been reserved for the Backward Classes (A) category and that of vice-president to BCM (B) group. Efforts are on by former Congress MLA from Bhadravati B.K. Sangamesh to prevent the three councillors from supporting the Janata Dal (S) nominee.

The three councillors are said to be shifted to an undisclosed place.

Meanwhile, the police have imposed ban orders in the city limits from Tuesday evening to Thursday evening as a precautionary measure in view of the tense situation arising out of the elections to the key municipal posts.