Bantwal, Oct 10: At last, reservation criteria for the posts of the president and vice president of the town municipality here has been announced. Now, both the Congress and the BJP have been planning to bag these positions of power. It need not come as surprise if the SDPI pulls the strings at the last minute to decide who will get elected.

The post of the president here has been earmarked for general category candidate while that of the vice president goes to backward woman category B. Therefore, all the 27 councillors of the municipality are eligible for president's election. Both the Congress and the BJP have women candidates from B category for contesting to the post of the vice president. But SDPI does not have any councillor who conforms to the norms set for the vice president's post.

In the 27-member municipality, Congress has 12 councillors, BJP has 11 and the SDPI has four members. For the coming election MLAs and MP can vote. Therefore, 29 have the right to vote. 15 votes are needed for a win. With the addition of its MP and MLA, BJP's strength will rise to 13 in Bantwal. But there are chances of last minute revolt, coalition, or cross voting in which case some unexpected candidate might win, the people believe.

Even though there are chances of the SDPI entering into pact with the Congress as it does not have a candidate who is elligible for vice president's post. The Congress with 13 councillors may not agree to give up president's post to the SDPI. If they fight separately, BJP will easily win. If the Congress retains both the seats and promises lot of development for SDPI constituencies, it might remain in power. But Ramanath Rai has been saying that his party will not enter into an understanding with the SDPI.

Therefore, there are chances of horse-trading, some say. The municipality will be in force for five years from the day the first monthly session is held. Therefore, the current councillors will be in office for a total of seven years with two years as bonus.

SDPI Dakshina Kannada general secretary, Shahul Hameed, said that his party will extend support to the Congress if it gives the post of the president to SDPI. Otherwise his party will fight independently he said. Devadas Shetty, in-charge of Bantwal assembly constituency unit of the BJP said that if the Congress and the SDPI enter into an alliance, BJP will function as the opposition party.