The Hindu : Congress faces weak opposition in Bellary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 29, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bellary

Congress faces weak opposition in Bellary

By M. Ahiraj

BELLARY, MARCH 28. With the disintegration of the Janata Dal (United) in Bellary district, the opposition to the Congress has become weak. All prominent leaders of the Janata Dal (U), including the former minister, M.P. Prakash, have left the party and joined the Janata Dal (Secular). But they appear to have failed to strengthen the Janata Dal (Secular). The BJP has been trying to increase its presence in the district.

The party had a following in certain pockets. It won the Hospet Assembly seat in the 1994 election, but lost it to the Congress in the subsequent election.

The party shot to prominence in the 1999 Lok Sabha election when it flew in the Union Information and Broacasting Minister, Sushma Swaraj, to be fielded against the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi from the Bellary Lok Sabha constituency (the BJP then was an ally of the Janata Dal (U)).

The Congress President polled 4.14 lakh votes as against 3.58 lakh votes polled by Ms. Sushma Swaraj.

However, not all votes secured by Ms. Swaraj can be construed as BJP votes as the party could not win a single Assembly seat in that election. Except in Kurgodu and Hadagali Assembly segments, she trailed Ms. Gandhi behind in all other six Assembly segments.

The Janata Dal (Secular) has no strong base in the district. This despite N.M.Nabi, former Minister, and B. Shivarama Reddy, former MLA, led the party in the district.

However this time, with most of the leaders of the Janata Dal (U), including Mr. Prakash, and party workers, joining the Janata Dal (S), political pundits are anxious to know whether they will be in a position to carry to voters along with them.

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Congress faces weak opposition in Bellary