The Hindu : Karnataka News : Guessing game begins as the local bodies go to the polls

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Friday, Sep 28, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Guessing game begins as the local bodies go to the polls

T.V. Sivanandan

Outcome likely to propel new political equations in the State

The results of the last panchayati raj elections gave way to the JD (S)-BJP coalition Government
The coincidence of the elections with the power transfer has triggered a flurry of activities

GULBARGA: The outcome of the urban local bodies elections in the State is being watched closely by political pundits and the guessing game has begun whether it would have an impact on today’s political scenario as did the last panchayati raj elections.

It was the outcome of the last panchayati raj elections that propelled new political equations in the State with the Janata Dal (S) and the Bharatiya Janata Party joining hands to form an alternative coalition Government.

In that panchayati raj elections, the Congress, which was the alliance partner of the Janata Dal (S), did well and pushed the Janata Dal (S) and the BJP to the second and third positions, which, apart from the Siddaramaiah factor, turned out to be the main reason for the Janata Dal (S) to withdraw its support leading to the downfall of the N. Dharam Singh Government and the emergence of the Janata Dal (S)-BJP coalition Government.

Timing

The timing of the urban local bodies election, and the results which would coincide with the transfer of power on October 3, has stirred a flurry of activities in all political parties.

A senior leader of the BJP, who does not want to be identified, told The Hindu that his party, which is expected to do well in the elections throughout the State, is prepared for any eventuality.

He said that the BJP was aware of the danger of the Janata Dal (S) breaking away from the alliance if the BJP fares well in the elections. It was also prepared to face possible mid-term elections to the Assembly.

Meeting

A team of senior BJP leaders, headed by Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, is expected to call on Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda after polling either on September 29 or September 30 and discuss the formalities of power transfer.

The senior BJP leader, who is holding an important position in the coalition Government, said that the party central leadership had also given the green signal to the line of strategy adopted by the State unit not to buckle under the pressure tactics adopted by the Janata Dal (S) leaders or to accept any new conditions for the transfer of power.

Agreement

He made it clear that the BJP would not agree to any change in the agreement reached 20 months ago between Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Yediyurappa on the distribution of the portfolios.

As agreed, the portfolios held by the Janata Dal (S) in the Congress-Janata Dal (S) Government were given to the BJP and the portfolios held by the Congress were taken over by the Janata Dal (S).

The only change was that the Janata Dal (S) also took over Public Works and Power portfolios while handing over the Water Resources portfolio to the BJP.

Portfolios

The BJP leader said this agreement stood good for the next 20 months under the leadership of the BJP and in the rightness of things, the Janata Dal (S) should agree to part with the portfolios held by it now to the BJP as per the power-sharing arrangement.

However, the Janata Dal (S), according to sources, has finalised its strategy to retain major portfolios, including Finance, Public Works, Power and Home, leaving Water Resources, Higher Education and others to the BJP as a pre-condition for power transfer.

The BJP leader said that if the Janata Dal (S) does not keep its word, the party’s Ministers will submit their resignation letters to the Chief Minister on October 2.

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