Now, BJP aims to win Council polls

BENGALURU: In order to attain majority in the Upper House, the Opposition BJP has set a goal to win maximum number of seats in the elections to the Legislative Council from local authorities constituencies scheduled to be held in December 2015.

On Saturday, leaders of core committee of the state unit of BJP met and discussed campaign strategies as well as a final list of party candidates for the elections. Twenty five seats would fall vacant in the Council in January 2016 from local authorities’ constituencies. Of these, Congress holds 12, while BJP and JD (S) have seven and five seats respectively, and one held by an independent candidate.

If BJP and JD(S) win maximum number of seats both parties could retain the posts of Chairman and deputy Chairman respectively. In this regard, the party has instructed its cadres to win 20 seats in the elections. However, in recently held elections to gram panchayats, the ruling Congress has won maximum number of seats than BJP and JD(S). Thus BJP has to work hard to win maximum number of seats in the elections, said sources in the party.

The core committee members have decided to select winnable candidates and those well connected with members of local bodies. Party leaders have also discussed about campaign for local bodies elections.

In the elections, if Congress wins more than 20 seats, automatically both Chairman and deputy Chairman posts in the Council would be held by the ruling Congress. Therefore, the BJP has decided to win maximum number of seats.