CHAMRAJNAGAR: The backward Chamrajnagar district, that is under 42 per cent forest cover, is likely to witness a high-voltage polls to the zilla panchayat and taluk panchayats.
The Chamrajnagar zilla panchayat with 21 members and four taluk panchayats with 85 seats was held by Congress. The district with its 6,17,778 voters will decide the fate of more than 500 candidates aspiring to win the panchayat polls.
The Congress, which managed to clinch 17 out of the 21 seats in the previous zilla panchayat, is likely to witness a multi-cornered contest as the BJP and JD(S) have managed to emerge has a strong force in the last couple of years.
While, the JD(S) won three seats, Vatal won one seat.
The elections have drawn the attention of prominent leaders as the BJP has considerably improved its vote share in the Parliament election, won by election to Kollegal constituency other than MLC election from Graduates’ constituency and local bodies has taken the polls prestigiously.
JD(S) confident
The JD(S), which also won the MLC election from local bodies, is confident of making an impressive presence in the hosting to be held on December 31. The BSP, which had its presence in Kollegal and Chamrajnagar constituency other than Gundlupet and Yalandur, has also entered the fray in both zilla and taluk panchayats, thus setting stage for a multicornered contest in a few seats.
Congress united
The Congress is heading unitedly in all the four taluks and is confident of repeating its impressive show in the district. They are confident of taking the help of Dalits, Kuruba, upparas, Muslims and other major communities like Veerashaivas to win the polls.
But, the BJP, which has solid backing of Veerashaivas, Nayakas, Devanaga and also a sizeable Dalit population, is expected to put up an impressive performance.
The JD(S) that lacks presence of prominent leaders in Chamrajnagar is backing on the charisma of ex-CM H D Kumaraswamy. The BJP and BSP has launched an election campaign ahead of the others in the district.
Boost for BJP
The joining of former MLA Parimala Nagappa to the BJP has also boosted its chances in the Hannur Assembly segment, and disqualification of BJP MLA G N Nanjundaswamy has given the BJP a chance to field its senior workers.
The Chamrajnagar district with a majority Dalit and Veerashaiva population has called the shots in majority of the elections in the past.
However, the microscopic backward communities are likely to play a decisive factor in the polls. The shift in Dalit votes to BJP, BSP and also to JD(S) in a few pockets is likely to worry the Congress leaders.
Though the BJP had taken up development as a major issue in the polls, the Opposition parties are against under development of the backward district.
Land scams of ruling government, failure to implement Kabini second stage and wildlife menace in villages falling in the fringe of the forest are likely to be key issues.