Belgaum: It's a strange situation for the voter in Belgaum. The coalition partners — the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) — are pitted against each other in the zilla and taluk panchayat elections.

"What kind of democracy is this? I do not understand," said a voter at Bailwad village in Bailhongal taluk. Another voter pointed out that the two parties fought each other in the last Assembly elections and formed a coalition on the pretext of keeping the "communal" elements out of power. But what has prevented them from having an alliance now? he asked.

Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh has ruled out having an alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) in the zilla and taluk panchayat elections. Does this mean that the Congress will not mind if "communal" elements win in these elections? asked another voter.

Although the Chief Minister's statement should being some solace to parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party appears to have lost ground in Belgaum district and its supporters are feeling demoralised in the absence of their two top leaders — Suresh C. Angadi and Ramesh Jigajinagi, who represent Belgaum and Chikkodi (Reserved) respectively in the Lok Sabha. Mr. Angadi is scheduled to visit the constituency but the party workers are ignorant of the plans of Mr. Jigajinagi.

The BJP workers in Chikkodi Lok Sabha Constituency feel let down. Lack of seriousness in the party leadership is apparent from the fact that it has fielded only 22 candidates in the zilla and 56 candidates in taluk panchayat elections in Chikkodi Lok Sabha Constituency. The BJP's presence is feeble in many areas in terms of campaigning.

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