The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP confident of doing well in panchayat polls, to go it alone

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 24, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP confident of doing well in panchayat polls, to go it alone

S. Rajendran

It will get a majority in at least 10 zilla panchayats, says Jagadish Shettar

UNITED AGAIN: President of the BJP's State unit Jagadish Shettar speaking to Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B.S. Yediyurappa (left) at the party office-bearers' meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday. Former BJP State unit President K.S. Eshwarappa is seen. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: The State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, apparently buoyed by the victory of the National Democratic Alliance in the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, has decided to go it alone in the coming polls to zilla and taluk panchayats in Karnataka.

It was mentioned that the differences among some senior leaders have been resolved and the BJP is confident of scoring over its main rivals — the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).

President of the State unit Jagadish Shettar told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the BJP will not have truck with any party, including the Janata Dal (United) with which it has an understanding at the Centre. In the BJP's view, panchayat elections will witness a three-cornered contest for most seats, and it has an advantage since the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) will split the votes.

Mr. Shettar said the "weakening" ties between the two coalition partners in the State will be exposed in the panchayat elections where they will be fighting against each other. Assembly elections will be held after panchayat elections, he added.

He said the BJP's victory in the Bihar elections in association with the Janata Dal (U) will have its impact in several States, including Karnataka. It will take time for the consequences to be felt here, but the BJP is confident that the people will support it in the panchayat elections. "We are confident of a comfortable majority in at least 10 of the 28 zilla panchayats and 50 of the 175 taluk panchayats," he said.

Mr. Shettar said a team of senior office-bearers has been formed to assess the BJP's strengthen in all taluks and evolve a poll strategy. Several teams of senior leaders have visited the districts and galvanised the local units.

According to sources, the polls will be a test for unity among senior leaders of the party.

A high-level meeting of the office-bearers of the State unit was held here on Wednesday. Among the invitees were district unit presidents and the senior leaders appointed to supervise the party's preparations for the panchayat elections. The meeting discussed the BJP's position in each district. "B" forms were handed over to district unit presidents to finalise candidates in consultations with Mr. Shettar.

The leaders will meet again early next week to finalise an election campaign strategy.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka