BELLARY: In the elections to zilla and taluk panchayats in Bellary district, the Janata Dal (Secular) in general and Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, in particular, have suffered a major setback. In a district where the party has been enjoying a strong base, the Janata Dal (Secular) has won only eight of the 36 seats in the zilla panchayat.

Adding insult to injury, Mr. Prakash, who is the second-in-command in the coalition government, will have to forego the top post of president in the zilla panchayat to the Congress.

In the wake of a tie with the BJP winning 18 seats and emerging as the single largest party, the Congress (10) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (8) combine getting 18 seats, the post of president and vice-president will be chosen by a draw of lots. Both groups are short of one seat to get simple majority.

With the Congress gaining two seats more than its coalition partner, it will definitely stake claim to the post of president.

Mr. Prakash managed to retain his hold in Hadagali taluk, which is also his home constituency. But support from other parts eluded him. His party almost swept the polls in his taluk by winning three of the total four ZP seats and 12 of the total 14 TP constituencies where polling was held. (Elections in Itagi TP constituency was countermanded following the death of one candidate).

Even in Hagari Bommanahalli, where Mr. Prakash enjoyed a strong support, the Janata Dal (Secular) could not win a single ZP seat. Contrary to expectations, the performance of Janata Dal (Secular) was very poor in Bellary taluk (where the BJP won all the eight ZP and 20 TP seats) and Kudligi and Hospet taluks where it could not win even a single ZP seat.

Saving grace

The only saving grace for the party was that its base was not eroded in Sandur taluk where it won four of the total five ZP seats and retained control of the taluk panchayat.

Of the 135 seats in the seven TPs in the district, the Janata Dal (Secular) won 49 seats and is in a position to take over the administration on its own in Sandur and Hadagali taluk panchayats. In Sirguppa, it can come to power only with the support of the Congress.

Disunity in Congress

The performance of the Congress was no better. The party controlled the zilla panchayat with 23 of the total 32 seats and five of the total seven TPs in the previous term. Now it won only 10 seats in ZP and 38 seats of the total 135 seats in the seven TPs in the district. This only indicated disunity in the party.

However, the efforts of Mr. Shiraj Sheikh as the then MLA from Kudligi for the development of his constituency (1999-2004), and now seem to have yielded positive results.

An achievement

He was instrumental in ensuring party candidates' victory in as many as seven of the 10 seats won by the Congress. This appears to be a remarkable achievement despite the aggressive campaign of the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), which is equally strong in that area.

The Congress has bagged all the four ZP seats in Hagari Bommanahalli taluk, two in Kudligi taluk and one each in Hospet and Toranagal. Except M.B. Ayyanahalli in Kudligi taluk and Toranagal in Sandur taluk, the other five ZP constituencies form part of Kudligi Assembly segment. Despite poor performance, the party is in a position to gain control of at least three taluk panchayats - Kudligi, Hagari Bommanahalli and Hospet - with the support of the Janata Dal (Secular).

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