Parties make big claims

All say they will win at least 20 seats, but are still unsure

The district has 27 zilla panchayat and 102 taluk panchayat constituencies. Every politician has immense confidence in the party as well as the candidate at every constituency and that they will win atleast 20 seats in the in the zilla panchayat elections.

Still in the dark

Ironically, however, nobody has any idea as to which party will actually win the 20 seats. The contenders or the party members are not even sure if the election results will force a coalition administration in the district.

The voter- who holds the reins of the entire drama- too is unwilling to give a clue as to what his preferences are.

Dinesh Gundurao, the Congress election observer, visited Chikkaballapur recently. He claimed that the Congress has no difference of opinion among its members that could not be solved. “Our party will certainly get a majority. We will win 25 seats in the zilla panchayat,” he added.

A few days later, however, after nominations started being filed, rebel candidates came up in the Congress.

Party leaders succeeded in persuading a couple of rebel candidates in Bagepalli to withdraw their nominations. In Chintamani and other taluks, however, they were not so lucky.

The Congress is therefore entering the polls wary of intense competition from rebels in certain constituencies.

Outcome of projects

Shobha Karandlaje, the District In-charge Minister for Chikkaballapur visited the city on Sunday to campaign for the BJP. She too expressed faith that the BJP would win 20 seats of the zilla panchayat unlike the last panchayat elections, when the party had managed to win just one seat.

“The developmental work and various projects for the people implemented in the last two-and-a-half years under Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is our greatest strength,” she claimed.

The BJP, however, is said to lack a strong base in most taluks of the district. It will face fierce competition in Chikkaballapur and other taluks from the JD(S), Congress and the CPI(M).

Members joining

K P Bachegowda, JD(S) legislator, said their party was strong in most villages in Chikkaballapur taluk. “Hundreds of political activists are quitting the BJP and the Congress to join our party,” he reminded and added, “This is just the beginning, many more changes are sure to happen in the coming days.”

He is confident of winning in four zilla panchayat and 14 taluk panchayat constituencies in the district. Bachegowda too leans on the influence of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his own developmental efforts in the last two-and-a-half years as legislator in the region.

However, although he claims of unity in the party, there are clear signs of rebellion in the JD(S) in a couple of constituencies. Certain party activists in Shidlaghatta have expressed dissatisfaction about the choices of the party leaders including the selection of M Rajanna as state unit president.

Other options

The three major contender parties in the panchayat polls are facing such situations.
The chances of CPI(M), BSP and independent candidates winning in their respective constituencies cannot be brushed aside.

CPI(M) candidates are strong contenders in Bagepalli, Chintamani and Gouribidanur. BSP and independent candidates have an equally strong chance.

Under such circumstances, the role and strategy of rebel candidates play are noteworthy.
The people are only waiting and watching keenly the drama evolving out of all the competition, influence, charisma, development, scam, challenge and counter-challenge among the parties and their candidates.

Strategies for victory

* All parties confident of majority
* Development activities guarding BJP
* JD(S) confident about members’ ability to win
* Congress dependent on number of legislators
* CPI(M), BSP and independent candidates have own influence over people