BIJAPUR: Congress leaders are anxiously awaiting the party's decision over panchayat alliances as the party needs the support of the All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) to gain control over three taluk panchayats in Bagalkot and Bijapur districts.

Most party leaders have advocated a tie-up with the AIPJD also because the Janata Dal (Secular) hardly has any numerical strength in bodies where the Congress cannot come to power on its own.

For instance, in the 22-member Hungund Taluk Panchayat, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have won eight seats each while the AIPJD has won six seats. The Congress can come to power only with the support of AIPJD.

The same situation prevails in the 22-member Badami Taluk Panchayat. The Congress has won nine seats while the BJP and the AIPJD have won seven and four seats, respectively. The Janata Dal (S) has secured one seat while one independent has won.

If the Congress decides to have an alliance with the Janata Dal (S), the AIPJD is unlikely to cooperate with the Congress in its bid to come to power in the Hungund and Badami taluk panchayats. The only chance left for the Congress will be to align with the BJP, sources in the AIPJD told The Hindu .

Basavanabagewadi

Further, the Congress may lose the chance of gaining control over the 28-member Basavanabagewadi Taluk Panchayat if it decides to align with the Janata Dal (S). By winning 13 seats, the party is on a par with the BJP, and the support of two independents who have won the elections, is crucial to gain power.

The post of the president is reserved for Backward Class `A' category woman. Though the Congress has no eligible candidate, it wants to control the panchayat by offering the coveted post to Sharanavva Shankrappa Kerutagi, who won from the Donur segment on the AIPJD symbol. The BJP has two eligible members from the category but it has also offered the post to Ms. Kerutagi to block the Congress from coming to power.

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