Vote transfer? Will JD(S) strategy pay off?

Bengaluru: The Janata Dal (Secular), which seemed more inclined to prop up the BJP government in the state ahead of the byelections, has in reality tried to transfer its votes in most constituencies going to the polls, to the Congress, according to party sources.

While the party has made a serious attempt to independently fight the byelections in KR Pete, Yeshwanthpura and Chikkaballapura constituencies and worked for BJP rebel, Sharath Bachegowda in Hosakote, in all other constituencies it reportedly backed the Congress.

“Our workers supported the Congress candidates in these constituencies as we did not have strong candidates in some and in others, the caste arithmetic was against us. Moreover, as all the BJP candidates were responsible for bringing down the Kumaraswamy government, the party leadership seems to have decided to teach them a lesson by tacitly supporting the Congress candidates,” explained a senior JD(S) leader.

In his view, the party could win two seats and the Congress not less than three or four seats due to its support.

The JD (S) has a history of adopting such a strategy in the old-Mysuru region where it has a strong base. While transfer of votes is hard in a parliamentary election when  a constituency has around 10 lakh voters, it is easier in assembly elections where a constituency has on an average two lakh voters, explained another party insider.

He, however, admitted that only the counting of votes on December 9 would reveal if the JD(S) strategy had paid off in the constituencies where it has enough support to make a difference to the outcome of the bypolls held on Thursday.