With a fractured verdict in 75 of the 207 urban local bodies (ULBs), including three city corporations, that went to the polls on Thursday last, the political parties are now looking at “like-minded parties” for post-poll alliance.
However, in 12 ULBs Independents rule the roost. The Congress has no problems in most districts as it has the majority to rule urban bodies, but it requires the support of either the JD(S) or Independents in a number of places.
While former chief minister and state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy told Express that a meeting had been convened in Bangalore on March 18 to decide which party the JD(S) should support, Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa said in Shimoga that the BJP was ready for alliance with any party that did not support the Congress.
Meanwhile, KJP vice-president R M Manjunath Gowda said in Shimoga that his party was open to forge alliance with any party except the BJP and the JD(S), hinting at a possible alliance with the Congress.Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwar said his party was ready for post-poll alliance with like-minded parties, including the JD(S).
In the past, the JD(S) had shared power with the Congress in many local bodies. However, now the question is whether the JD(S) will support the BJP at least in Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.
Despite drubbing in the polls both in south and north Karnataka, the JD(S) still will play a major role in controlling local bodies.
For instance, the JD(S) support is necessary in Mysore City Corporation, Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation and Gulbarga City Corporation and a number of other city municipal, town municipal councils and taluk panchayats.
Although the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in Mysore City Corporation, it is still short of 10 seats to rule it.
In Hubli-Dharwad, the BJP has won 33 of the total 67 seats. With the JD(S) winning nine seats, the Congress cannot come to power as it has got only 22 seats.
In Gulbarga, the Congress has the option of taking the support of the six Independents, the KJP or the Congress.“We are keeping all options open. Our support is must for both the Congress and the BJP in many local bodies. But at the same time, they are our political rivals in the coming Assembly polls. We will not take any decision which will affect our prospects in the Assembly polls,” said Kumaraswamy.
He said so far no leader of any party had approached him seeking the JD(S) support. Attributing his party’s poor performance to ‘overconfidence’ and ‘mistake among leaders’, Kumaraswamy said he was unperturbed by the results.“Having 26 MLAs, the party had put up a good show in most districts and secured more votes than the Congress and the BJP in many places. “We are strong in rural areas. We will show our strength in the Assembly polls,” he added.