BENGALURU: A large section of Congress leaders believe that a combination of strategies would help their party and JD(S) defeat the BJP in forthcoming elections to urban local bodies (ULBs). These leaders realize that it would not be possible for either of the parties to enter into any kind of agreement where both parties - JD(S) and Congress - are involved in a direct contest. Therefore, leaders of both parties are trying their best to placate their workers through statements against forming pre-poll alliance in ULB elections.
“In districts like Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru (Rural), Hassan and Ramanagara it would be highly improbable for either of us to enter into any kind of agreeement. Even tacit understanding could upset workers of both parties to a great extent. Hence, the parties will look to field their own strong candidates to retain the hold on their turf. While in other districts like, Kolar, Chikkaballpur, Tumakuru and surrounding areas, a tacit understanding between both parties may work in the best interests of each other. In north-Karnataka region, it will depend on individual segments and so both parties can have pre-poll alliance to take on the BJP, which has very strong presence in this region,” a senior leader told Deccan Chronicle.
The leader added that both parties knew that they must retain their workers at any cost as a result of which the top echelons of both parties seem to have worked out these arrangements to ensure that both parties together try to wrest as many as ULBs in the elections. “Politics is the art of convincing the unconvincable. That is what is happening at present. There is no confusion over seat sharing between these parties. The ULB polls are being traditionally seen as battle for holding onto their own turf. Thus, fighting on individual's strength at someplace becomes inevitable. Therefore both parties need to work in tandem to secure maximum number of seats,” remarked another senior leader.
