Stakes are high for parties, leaders in Mandya district

If the BJP is banking on the development card and the programmes of the B S Yeddyurappa government like Bhagyalakshmi scheme, farm loans in cheaper interest and others to open an account in the 40-member zilla panchayat, the Congress party, which lost to JD(S) in previous panchayat elections, is putting a united show, after its leaders Union Minister S M Krishna, Former union minister, M H Ambareesh, former MP G Madegowda have appeared on a single forum appealing the party workers to work in unison to win the elections.

The JD (S) gains a small edge over the two parties due to various reasons - the caste equations, little influence of the BJP in the region and the factionalism, which has divided the rank and file of Congress party.

The outcome of the elections in the district would be one of the interesting to watch for as each party vying to cut into the bastion of the other.

The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha’s Sarvodaya party may play a spoilsport for the secular parties at least in some constituencies, while the open understanding between Congress and Sarvodaya party leaders in Srirangapatna is likely go in the favour of Congress.

Taluk-wise
All the seven taluks presents a mixed picture of strength of the parties.
In Maddur, the show of unity from its senior leaders S M Krishna, Ambareesh and Madegowda has lent oxygen for the Congress party.

The JD (S) suffers with a lack of leadership as MLA Kalpana Siddaraju has failed to match to her husband late Siddaraju’s political charisma. The duo will fight for their prestige here.

Whereas, the stakes are high for both the parties in Mandya taluk as both Congress and JD(S) is a divided house with several factions in the taluk. In Malavalli, it will be test of strength for the JD(S) and Congress party.

JD(S) is making every effort to gain from development in Congress. The latter giving authority to former minister and expelled independent MLA P M Narendraswamy has left Congress loyalists like former MLC Mallajamma and her supporters red-faced.
The Kuruba community votes play a decisive role for the ZP seats in the Nagamangala assembly constituency, even as it will be a test of strength for Mandya MP N Cheluvarayaswamy.

In Pandavapura and Srirangapatna, both the Congress and JD(S) are vying to establish their strength, even as the elections pose a challenge for MLAs C S Puttaraju and Ramesh Bandisiddegowda thanks to influence of Raitha Sangha and its flagship Sarvodaya party.

CM’s hometown
All eyes are on Bookanakere- the birth place of the Chief Minister which has seen several development projects like good roads, water supply and electricity connections in recent past. This constituency is where the BJP hopes to open an account in ZP, after nearly two decades. The other constituency where the ruling party pins hope is Boodarnur in Mandya taluk. For sitting Congress MLA K B Chandrashekar in K R Pet, convincing voters to support the Congress could prove to be a tough task amid the challenge of the JD(S) and the BJP in his constituency.

Present strength of parties
Total    - 40 seats
JD(S)   - 21 
Cong   - 14
AIPJD  - 04
Independent - 1
There are 177 candidates in fray for ZP, while  524 candidates are in the race for 152 constituencies of seven TP’s.