At a time when suspense is building up over the transfer of chief ministership from JD(S) to the BJP in Karnataka, the results of the elections to 209 urban local bodies (ULBs) across the state have thrown up some surprises. The coalition partners, even while fighting each other, have managed to score over the Congress in many places, indicating their ascendancy ever since coming to power in February 2006. The Congress had done spectacularly well in the 2001 elections, riding on the euphoria created by the then S M Krishna government and captured most of the ULBs, but its rapid decline since then has been noticeable.

It’s true that the ruling parties by and large enjoy an upper hand in ULB elections as the electorate tends to back those in power in the hope of getting funds for better amenities. Also, the fact that the state Acts covering these elections do not impose any restrictions on spending, make them a veritable playground for money and muscle power. Unfortunately, no party can absolve itself of this blame. In that sense, from a lowly fourth place in the last elections, the JD(S) under Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, has made impressive gains across the state, running Congress neck-to-neck for the first place in terms of the total seats won. The BJP has also doubled the number of wards it won last time and more importantly, captured three of the six corporations – Mangalore, Bellary and Davangere – for which elections were held. The Janata Dal(U) which held 457 wards, has almost been wiped out. The JD(S) has captured a number of city municipal councils, town municipal councils and taluk panchayats and where there is a hung result, may be able to share power with the help of BJP and independents, edging out Congress in the bargain.

Mr Kumaraswamy’s personal charisma, including his “village stays”, has perhaps played a role in the impressive performance put up by the JD(S) and the result of the elections – which the ruling coalition was most reluctant to hold – is bound to have a bearing on the immediate issue of transfer of power. While the poor showing of the Congress under KPCC president Mallikarjun Kharge, should make the party high command do some quick soul-searching, the mercurial JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda can be expected to push the BJP to the wall even more than he might have planned earlier. Clearly, it’s advantage Mr Gowda.