The draw of lots favoured the Congress party in the elections held for the post of the president and the vice president of the Zilla Panchayat here on Monday.

In the elections for the second term Congress party’s Krishnamurthy and the Congress backed candidate Gadari Hanumanthappa were elected as president and vice president respectively even as the voting ended in a tie.
In the 57 member Tumkur Zilla Panchayat there are a total of 27 Congress members and 26 belonging to the JD (S).

But since it is backed by three members of the BJP technically it had a majority.

As a result, it had come to power easily in the first term.

Till the last minute, it was expected that JD (S) would have a cakewalk.

Dramatic twist
But in the dramatic developments that took place on Monday morning, all calculations went haywire.
While all the 27 Congress members were present for the elections, one of the JD (S) members Naryanappa was absent.

Besides the independent candidate Gadari Hanumanthappa who had backed the JD (S) last year this time backed the Congress.

Hence JD (S) were short of two members. JD (S) candidate Gubbi Krishnamurthy bagged 28 votes with the support of the Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP).

Congress’s Holavanahalli Krishnamurthy also bagged the same number of votes with the support of Gadari Krishnamurthy.

So both the parties were tied at 28 votes each.

Fortune smiled
According to the election rules, election officer Sadiq drew lots and Congress emerged victorious.
Even in the vice president’s elections lottery was drawn as JD (S) candidate Shivanna and Congress backed candidate Gadari Hanumanthappa were tied at 28 seats each.

When the lots were drawn, the fortune smiled on the Congress again.

Though it looked like luck favoured the Congress, in the political circles it is being analysed that JD (S) had suffered loss of face.

Big blow

“It was a big blow to the JD (S) that one of its members had not come. An independent candidate Gadari Hanumanthappa supporting Congress was not totally unexpected.

But it clearly showed in the elections held on Monday that everything was not alright in the JD (S),” said a leader on condition of anonymity.

Including Forest Minister C Chennigappa, who is also the district in-charge minister, there are 9 legislators representing the JD (S).

But Congress has just one and that is G Parameshwar.

Besides as it has the largest representatives from the party, the JD (S) high command has always kept a sharp eye at the political developments here.

Hence the party was fully geared up for the elections.
But a few in the party were expecting such a sudden turn of events, it is  said.

Victory celebrated
The Congress was seen celebrating the victory after the elections.
The leaders and workers of Congress party rushed to the Zilla Panchayat offices and congratulated the new president and the vice president. 

Senior IAS officer Sadiq was the election officer. Zilla Panchayat  Chief Executive Officer Manojkumar Meena and Deputy Commissioner S R Umashanker and others were also present.