Congress, BJP, JD(S) to slug it out in Shivamogga

SHIVAMOGGA: The platform is set for a triangular contest between the Congress, Janata Dal (S) and the BJP in the Legislative Council elections from the Shivamogga local authority constituency, comprising Honnali and Channagiri taluks of undivided Shivamogga district.

As many as seven candidates are in the fray for the polls on Sunday. Sitting MLC and BJP candidate R.K. Siddaramanna is seeking a re-election, while Congress candidate R. Prasanna Kumar is leaving no stone unturned to make his first foray into state politics a success.

Janata Dal (Secular) candidate H.N. Niranjan, who quit as public works department engineer to face the polls, is relying on three MLAs from Shivamogga district (Sorab, Bhadravati and Shivamogga Rural).

The saffron party leaders are highlighting Mr Siddaramanna’s simplicity, experience and clean image during the campaigns. But the fact that the BJP has a lone MLA (Shikaripur) in nine taluks of the constituency, including Channagiri and Honnali of Davangere district, has put its candidate in a disadvantageous position. However, the party's base at the grassroots is the real strength of the BJP.
Political observers feel that the party candidate’s success solely depends on how the worker base contributes to his success.

Though Mr Prasanna Kumar is in an advantageous position as he represents the ruling party and five MLAs are from the Congress, things could take a turn for the worse at the gram panchayat level. It will not be difficult for Mr Kumar to emerge a winner if workers and MLAs of the ruling party work together.

The outcome of the elections may not have an impact on the government, but victory is essential for the BJP to regain its lost foothold and to prove that it could be in contention for power during the next Assembly elections. It is treating the Council election as a first step towards wresting power back from Congress.

The presence of JD(S) has paved way for a keen contest. This will be the best opportunity for the leaders to strengthen the party at the grassroots level in the district for the next general elections.

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