Mangalore, February 21: All the major political parties in Dakshina Kannada district are getting ready to finalize their candidates for the elections to the seven urban local bodies (ULB’s), slated for March 7, 2013. The BJP has said it will contest all the 189 seats across the seven ULB’s and has announced the first list of 33 candidates in Mangalore City Corporation which has 60 wards. Another major political party the Congress is caught in the quagmire even as it is trying to come out with the first list of candidates. Sources say that the first list of the Congress will be out by tomorrow February 22) evening. The seven ULB’s going for the polls are Mangalore, Moodbidri, Ullal, Bantwal, Puttur, Belthangadi and Sullia.
In the meantime, the five year term of the Mangalore City Corporation ruled by the BJP came to an end on February 20, 2013 and the government has appointed Deputy Commissioner N Prakash as the Administrator from February 21st onwards. The forthcoming council would be the sixth elected council ever since Mangalore city Municipality became a Corporation in 1983. The BJP wrested power from the Congress in 2007, thus putting an end two its two-decade old hold over the Corporation in the 2007 elections, where the party managed to win 34 seats. With one independent joining them subsequently, the strength of the BJP in the council had risen to 35. The Congress had won 20 seats and JD (S) and CPI(M) one each with independents bagging 4 seats.
Though the BJP is the ruling party in the state, the split resulting in the formation of KJP and Sriramulu Congress has given a big jolt to the party. These civic elections will be like a precursor to the forthcoming assembly elections which are likely to be scheduled for May this year. These results are sure to clearly demonstrate the prevailing mood of the voter. Major political parties, which were in no mood for these elections, that too just prior to the assembly elections, are now forced to work fastidiously to ensure their victory and set the ground for the assembly elections.
Congress unity – A façade?
The Congress camp was buzzing with lot of activity preparing itself for the assembly elections and even finalizing their candidate. However, with the announcement of civic elections they had to divert their energies to these civic polls. Former union minister B Janardhana Poojary has been appointed as the in-charge by the Congress to these ULB’s. Just as he was all set to finalize appointment of various committees, Congress Block President Ahsraf staged a rebellion accusing Poojary of being anti-Muslim, an accusation that has no basis. While it is well known that Poojary and Ashraf don’t get along well this open revolt has come as a rude shock for the party which was trying to present a picture of unity.
Factionalism in BJP
The BJP on the other hand is not without factionalism. The party has announced a list of 33 candidates and only 14 sitting councilors have succeeded in getting the party ticket. Though BJP claims these candidates do not want to contest again in order to give an opportunity to others, there is no hold in this argument. With the announcement of the second list, the factionalism and infighting within the party may come out any time. The election of Gulzar Banu of Congress to the post of Mayor last year despite the BJP having a majority in the council was in fact the result of infighting within the Congress.
BJP Corporator Mohan Padil (of home stay attack fame) has given a huge shock to the BJP by joining the JD(S) today but not before lambasting the BJP for its inefficiency. With his name linked to the now infamous home stay attack, whether Mohan Padil is going to make any difference by switching the party, remains to be seen. But the party will have to prepare itself for braving more such shocks when the list of other candidates will be finalized.
Apart from Congress and the BJP other political parties like JD(S), CPI (M) and KJP may walk away with one or two seats.
A clear picture would emerge only when the Congress comes out with its lists and the BJP also finalizes its second and subsequent lists.
