Karnataka   

Independents hold the key in Chitradurga district

Jubilant: Supporters of various parties taking out rallies in Chitradurga on Sunday.

Chitradurga: The competition between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) in the local body elections turned out to be very stiff with no political party enjoying majority.

In the counting held for local body election at Government PU College for 35 wards of the city here Sunday, the Janata Dal (Secular) won 17 seats and Congress 15, while independents bagged three seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which had fielded its candidates in 15 wards, could not open its account. Similar was the case with the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi party.

The counting for local body elections held under tight police security, witnessed unprecedented gathering of people outside the counting centre.

The counting was held for 142 wards of the district. The Congress won 69 seats, restricting the Janata Dal (Secular) to the second position with 51 seats. The BJP could manage to win only six seats, while independents emerged victorious in 12 wards. Surprisingly, the erstwhile Janata Party won four seats in Molakalmur taluk.

The independent candidates have crucial role in shaping out political equation in Chitradurga city. Since the Janata Dal (Secular) has won 17 seats, it gets the votes of MLA H. Anjaneya and MLC B. T. Chennabasappa which take the number to 19. To get majority, the party needs the support of at least one independent candidate. While the Congress which has won 15 seats, would get the votes of MP N. Y. Hanumantappa and MLA G. H. Tippareddy. To get majority, the Congress needs the support of all the three independents. Similar is the case of Hiriyur taluk. Here, of the 27 wards, the Congress has won 13 seats, Janata Dal (Secular) 12 and independents two. To gain majority, the Congress needs support of at least one candidate, while the Janata Dal (Secular) needs the support of both candidates to come to power.

According to the results declared in other taluks, of the 23 wards of Hosadurga, the Congress won 9 seats, Janata Dal (Secular) 12, and the BJP and independent one each. In Challakere, the Congress won 17 seats, Janata Dal (Secular) 7, BJP 2 and independent one, the counting was held for 27 wards. In Holalkere, of 15 wards, the Congress won 9 seats, while the Janata Dal (Secular), BJP and others won two each . In 15 wards of Molakalmur, the Congress won six seats, the Janata Party four, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP one each and others three.

The city witnessed countless number of processions and rallies carried out by the winners of local body elections on Sunday.

The declaration of results brought cheer to the winners and their supporters. Soon after the announcement of results, the supporters of various parties celebrated by bursting crackers, beating drums and applying “gulal” on each other.

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

Stories in this Section

Bridge the information gap, says Kumaraswamy
A narrow margin
Lorries impounded
Child workers rescued
Clear majority for JD(S) in Kollegal CMC
Independents hold the key in Chitradurga district
It’s a mixed bag in Uttara Kannada
Congress loses in Davangere
A beehive of activity
They face the threat of eviction
Kolar: MLA blamed for Congress setback
Ends life
Selected
Legal action mulled
It’s JD(S) all the way
Space Week celebrations to be conducted in colleges
Man assaulted
Mobile phone obsession

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu