Cong gets upper hand in local bodies election
Hung results in many places, Alliance likely between Congress-JDS
Bengaluru, September 3: The results of much curious local bodies elections was announced on Monday and one of the ruling parties- Congress has gained upper hands with winning more seats. But in many places, there were hung results and political parties are competing with each other for the power.
Now, the Congress and BJP have to fight for getting power. Though the voters have not given clear mandate to any one political party, the BJP has strengthened its base in city municipal councils, while the Congress has got more seats in town panchayats. However, the JDS was pushed to the third place.
The elections were held for 2,732 wards in 105 local bodies including three city corporations in 22 districts. Among them, the Congress has won 982 wards, while BJP has got 929 wards, JDS in 375 wards, SDPI in 17 wards, BSP in13 wards, KPJP in 10 wards, SP in four, KRRS, New Indian Congress and WPI have got one seat each and 329 independent candidates have won.
City Municipal Councils
Out of 29 city municipal councils in the state, the Congress has got clear mandate in 10, BJP in 5 and JDS in three councils. Apart from this, 11 councils have no clear mandate to any one party.
Town panchayats
Out of 20 town panchayats, both the Congress and BJP have got clear majority in seven town panchayats each. JDS would get the power in two panchayats and four have hung councils.
Town municipal councils
Among 53 town municipal councils, Congress has got majority in 19, BJP in 12 and JDS in 8. However, no party has got majority in 14 councils.
City Corporations
Among Shivamogga, Mysuru and Tumkur city corporations, the BJP has got majority in Shivamogga city corporations, and remaining two have hung situation. Like coalition government at the state, there is all likelihood that both the city corporations may have coalition administration.
In total, the Congress has got power in 31 local bodies, BJP in 30 and JDS has got power in 13 places and 31 local bodies have in hung situation.
Among 135 city corporation seats, the Congress has won 36, BJP 54 and JDS 30 seats and independents have won in 15 wards. Out of 355 wards in town panchayats, Congress has got highest 138 seats, BJP 130, JDS 29 and others have got 58 seats. Out of 926 wards in city municipal councils, the BJP has got the highest 370 seats followed by Congress with 294 and JDS 106 and independents in 156 seats.
Among 1,247 town municipal council seats, the Congress has got 514 seats, while BJP has got 375 seats and JDS 210 seats, SDPI- 4, KRRS-1, WPI-1, SP-4 and 135 independents.
The JDS has maintained its hold in old Mysuru region like Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru and Tumkur. However, the BJP has maintained its influence in North Karnataka, Coastal region and Mangaluru. But the Congress has felt its presence in all places and got more seats than BJP and JDS.
Though the Congress has emerged the biggest party with more seats, it could get the power only in a few local bodies. In some local bodies, the Congress has registered zero account. Interestingly, the JDS has bagged more seats in the home district of Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar.
Unanimous election
The Election Commission has announced that total 30 candidates have elected unopposed in various districts. Of them, the Congress candidates were elected unanimously in 9 wards, BJP in three wards, JDS and BSP in one ward each and 16 independents were elected unopposed.
Seats tally
- Congress- 982
- BJP- 929
- JDS- 375
- Others- 376
Party strength
City Corporation: 135 wards
- Congress-36, BJP-54, JDS-30, others-15
Town Panchayat: 355 seats
- Congress- 138, BJP- 130, JDS-29 and others-58
City Municipal Council: 926 seats
- Congress- 294, BJP- 370, JDS-106, others- 156
Town municipal council: 1246 seats
- Congress- 514, BJP- 375, JDS-210, others-147
Not a referendum
“The result of the local bodies elections is not a referendum to the Lok Sabha election. This result will not have any impact on the forthcoming LS poll”.
- HD Deve Gowda, Former Prime Minister
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“Full prepared..going to win,” Congress MP KC Venugopal ahead of Kerala polls
EC not functioning as a neutral institution: Venugopal
Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
