JD(S) maintains lead,Cong R-up, BJP to go it alone

On expected lines, the JD(S) won the highest number of seats in the elections held to 435 wards in 16 urban local bodies in the districts of Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar in the region.

When the results of the polls, held on August 31, was announced on Monday, all three major parties — the JD(S), Congress and BJP — had something to cheer. At the same time, smaller parties like the SDPI and BSP also gained with some seats, making a dent in the vote share of the major parties.

While the Congress maintained its second position, with lesser seats compared to the last election, the BJP increased its tally.

After a long time, the JD(S)-BJP coalition will be replaced by a new combination of JD(S)-Congress in the region.

Of the total of 435 seats in 16 ULBs, the JD(S) has won 184, the Congress 118 and the BJP 72. In nine ULBs of Periyapatana Town Municipal Council, Mandya City Municipal Council, Maddur Town Municipal Council, Pandavapura Town Municipal Council, Nagamangala Town Municipal Council, Arsikere City Municipal Council, Channarayapatna Town Municipal Council, Holenarsipur Town Municipal Council, and Sakleshpur Town Municipal Council, the JD(S) can form the council and elect the presidents and vice presidents on its own strength.

The JD(S)-Congress coalition can elect the presidents and vice presidents in Mysuru City Corporation, HD Kote Town Municipal Council, T Narsipur Town Municipal Council, Hassan City Municipal Council, and Bellur Town Panchayat.

The Congress can form a truck with the SDPI and the BSP to elect the president and vice president in Chamarajanagar City Municipal Council, while it can have a truck with the BSP in Kollegal City Municipal Council.

The JD(S) has not won a single councillor in the election held to these two ULBs in Chamarajanagar district.

The JD(S) routed all parties by winning all 23 wards in Holenarsipur Town Municipal Council. The Congress lost its deposit in 15 wards. It has to be mentioned that PWD Minister H D Revanna represents Holenarsipur Assembly segment and the district is considered to be the stronghold of the JD(S). In Mandya district also, another stronghold of the JD(S), the party will be able to elect the president and vice presidents of four ULBs on its own. Only in Bellur of Nagamangala taluk, the Congress is the single largest party.

The JD(S) pre-poll ally, the BSP, has opened its account with one seat in Mysuru City Corporation, one in Chamarajanagar City Municipal Council, and nine in Kollegal City Municipal Council. It has to be mentioned that Education Minister N Mahesh, the lone BSP MLA of the state, is from Kollegal. The BSP has also won two seats in HD Kote.

The SDPI, which has two corporators in the earlier council in Mysuru, has not been successful here. But, it has won six seats in Chamarajanagar.

The election to ULBs in the region has come as a blessing in disguise for the BJP as it was forced to go independently. The BJP, which does not have a leader from the region, despite having senior MLAs, ex-MLAs, ex-MLCs and former ministers and also a MP, was used to ride piggy-back on the JD(S). In fact, the local high-command for the party in the region are the JD(S) leaders. However, it has to be seen if the BJP would be able to keep the tempo of the surprise victories.

For the first time, the BJP has crossed the 20 mark in the Mysuru City Corporation. The party winning 15 seats in Chamarajanagar, 13 seats in Hassan, six seats in Kollegal and five seats in Arsikere is significant for the party. Earlier, the BJP had three councillors in Hassan. The party, which used to win one seat in Maddur earlier, continued the tradition. Besides, it has opened account in HD Kote, T Narsipur, Mandya, Pandavapura, and Sakleshpur.