Mangalore , 
March 5, 2013
As the campaigning for the 7 ULB’s in Dakshina Kannada has come to an end this morning there is a lull in the activity of candidates who were busy campaigning in the last few days. The city witnessed hectic campaigning in the last one week by the candidates who were seen visiting voters in hordes along with their supporters, to elicit the support of the voters.
The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of polls. The state government has appointed Dy Commissioner N Prakash as the administrator of the city corporation from February 21, 2013 and Shivalinga Murthy, Additional Secretary has been appointed as the observer for these elections.
In all 32 sector officers have been nominated for Mangalore city City Corporatinon, four for Puttur, three each for Ullal and Bantwal, two each for Moodbidri and Sullia and one for Belthangady.
There are altogether 243 candidates in the fray for the 60 wards of Mangalore City Corporation. While the Congress and BJP have fielded 60 candidates each JD(S) has 48 candidates in the fray. CPI (M) is contesting in 14 seats and there are 61 independent candidates trying their luck in the ensuring elections. There are about 3.12 lakh eligible voters in Mangalore.
The Congress and the BJP are the main contenders for power whereas JD(S) is trying to emerge as the third force. The BJP which was in power with 34 seats in 2007 is fighting both the incumbency factor and the infighting in the party at the state level. The Congress which managed to win 20 seats last time was made to sit in the opposition for the first time in 2007. But a resurgent Congress buoyed by the BJP’s inept rule of five years marked by infighting, constant bickering and hordes of corruption scandals, is confident of making a grand come back.
The recent C-Voter survey, conducted by a private research agency of repute, giving a clear majority to Congress must have gladdened the heart of Congressmen. These elections are significant for the simple reason that the results of the civic polls are expected to set the trend for the coming assembly elections in the state.
For BJP, this election is like an acid test it remains to be seen whether the people approve of its five years of rule. For former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda also this election is an opportunity to assert his clout by winning the elections. Though he has expressed confidence of winning 45 seats, it is not as easy as it is made out to be. The Congress is fighting these elections for its very survival and JD(S) is also trying to emerge as a major third force in this coastal district. JD(S) which had managed to win only one seat in the 60 seats of the corporation is now a political force to reckon with as the inclusion of Nagaraja Shetty and A Sadananda Shetty has bolstered the party’s image to a great extent. JD(S) is sure to play the spoilsport as the party which has given 10 seats to Christians and nine seats to Muslims and in most seats their candidates face their own community candidates, which might split the votes of the community.
The Congress, though initially bothered by infighting and internal bickering, has put its house in order or so it looks, at least till the elections are over. A united Congress is the biggest threat for any opposition party and this election will test Janardhana Poojary’s clout in the party.
The counting of votes will be held on March 11, 2013 and results will be declared the same day.
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