HASSAN: The differences among the leaders of Janata Dal (Secular) in Alur-Sakleshpur Assembly constituency might affect the party's prospects in the ensuing elections to zilla and taluk panchayats.

Sources in the party admit that B.R. Gurudev, a Lingayat leader, who joined the party in the run up to the Assembly election in 2004 and subsequently became an MLC, is reportedly disappointed with the treatment meted out to his followers in allotting tickets. Sources said that Mr. Gurudev is not taking an "active" part in campaign.

District in-charge and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna is making efforts to sort out the differences.

But Congress leaders, including B.D. Basavaraj and B.A. Jagannath, who joined the party recently, are making united efforts and campaigning for the party candidates.

Senior politician B.B. Shivappa, who joined Bharatiya Janata Party deserting Congress protesting the treatment meted out to him from senior party leaders, is campaigning for party candidates in both the taluks.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which secured nearly 17,000 votes in the Assembly election has fielded its candidates and is planning to frustrate other front-runners.

People of the taluk are unhappy that the High-Power Committee for the Redressal of Regional Imbalance, headed by the late D.M. Nanjundappa, placed Alur among the developed taluks in the State as it has categorised other taluks, which are having irrigation facility, as "more backward taluks."

They allege that elected representatives have neglected the taluk over the past five decades. The taluk lacks education, healthcare and irrigation facilities.

Except for K.P. Chikke Gowda of Dodda Kanagal hobli, none of those who represented the Alur-Sakleshpur Assembly constituency are from Alur taluk. The people who surrendered their land for the construction of Hemavathi Reservoir are yet to get compensation and many of the evacuees have migrated to other taluks.

While the total number zilla panchayat constituencies in Sakleshpur taluk is three, there are two in Alur taluk.

The number of taluk panchayat constituencies are 12 and 11 respectively. The number of voters in Sakleshpur and Alur taluks is 75,222 and 55,896 respectively.

Though Vokkaligas form majority of voters, excepting Chikke Gowda, all elected representative belong to the Lingayat community.

Sources in the Janata Dal (Secular) claim that despite differences among the leaders, there are bright chances for the party in Hanbal and Belagodu constituencies.

According to Congress leaders, the party is having an upper hand in Yesalur constituency. Similarly, there is stiff fight between the coalition partners in Magge and Alur constituencies of Alur taluk.

However, it has to be seen which party will get suffer the most because of the presence of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party candidates.

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