Mumbai-Karnataka: Congress scare for BJP

Hubballi: The  Congress has given the BJP a tough fight in the urban local body elections in the Mumbai-Karnataka region where the saffron party had won a majority of the assembly seats only a few months ago. While the BJP has retained its lead, winning from 438 wards, the Congress has come a close second, bagging 413 seats in the six districts of the region. But JD(S) has not performed well in the Mumbai-Karnataka region. 

Interestingly, the Congress is all set to come to power in four of the five local governing bodies in Haveri district despite the influence that state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa is said to enjoy here . Even worse, his close confidant C. M. Udasi, has lost face in his hometown  of Hangal  where the Congress has come to power in the municipality, winning 19 seats, leaving only four for the BJP.  

The BJP has lost the Haveri city municipality  too although the assembly constituency that it is a part of is represented  by its legislator. Another BJP leader and MLA, Basavaraj Bommai has also suffered a setback, with the party losing the  Savanur town municipality in his constituency.  In a shot in the arm for the Congress, it has performed well in Gadag although three of the four Assembly constituencies here are represented by the BJP. The Congress has gained power in three of the six local governing bodies, while the BJP has won only two bodies.

In Uttara Kannada, both parties have come to power in three local bodies each. Revenue minister R.V. Deshpande’s  influence appears to have helped the Congress retain the Haliyal town municipality. Meanwhile, despite winning Badami by a slender margin against BJP leader B Sriramulu, former CM  Siddaramaiah has managed to retain his influence in the constituency.

The Congress has won Badami and Guledgudd municipalities while there is a hung situation in Kerur. The Congress has suffered a setback in Bagalkot district with the BJP winning half of the dozen local governing bodies there.  It has, however, won the Jamkhandi municipality where sympathy factor appears  to have worked in its favour following the death of former minister and MLA Siddu Nyamgouda.