Karnataka - Bijapur   

Congress facing tough competition from JD(S), BJP

Suresh Bhat

Caste and election strategies eclipse important issues in Bijapur district

BIJAPUR: Caste-based election strategies and high profile electioneering seem to have eclipsed issues such as drought, migration of labourers, crop loss, flood havoc, non-performance and corruption during previous term, which otherwise could have been the influencing factors in the panchayat elections slated for Friday.

The stakes are high for the Congress that had an overwhelming majority in the zilla panchayat and all the five taluk panchayats in the previous term. While the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to retain the ground it gained during the last General elections, it appears to be do-or-die battle for the Janata Dal (Secular) that had no representations in the previous panchayat bodies.

Although a good number of candidates belong to former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's All-India Progressive Janata Dal and former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa's Samajwadi Party are in the fray, they are unlikely to make much dent except in a couple of constituencies.

Stiff opposition

By and large, it is a showdown between the Congress, the Janata Dal (S) and the BJP.

The Congress appears to be facing stiff opposition from the BJP in most zilla panchayat segments that fall under Basavanabagewadi and Huvinahipparagi Assembly constituencies, while the Janata Dal (S) that has thrown up a challenge to the Congress in the rest. Janata Dal (S) won Ballolli Assembly seat and stood runners up in Sindagi and Muddebihal. It has gained in strength as most of the senior leaders from Janata Dal (United) have joined it since then.

It received a shot in the arm, as the independent MLA from Indi segment Ravikant Patil threw his weight behind the party.

While the Janata Dal (S) claims that only it can take care of the rural mass, especially farming community, the Congress is seeking mandate to continue its "pro-poor" policies. While promising corruption-free governance, the BJP campaign managers, especially Bijapur MP Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal say it is time for change. However, the party appears to be no match to the high profile campaigning of the Congress and the Janata Dal (S).

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