JD(S) fares well in local body polls, BJP in 3rd place
Press Trust of India
Bangalore, Sept. 30: Amid confusion over the October 3 transfer of power in Karnataka, the JD(S) today put up an impressive show in the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) election in the state winning 1,044 seats, while its coalition partner BJP won 669 seats ans was at the third place.
The trend, as the counting of votes of the September 28 poll progressed, indicated that opposition Congress which has bagged 1,111 seats was only marginally ahead of JD(S).
Reacting to his party's performance at the hustings, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy told reporters that "we were hitherto rated as a rural based party. And now urban voters have also expressed their trust in my party."
He said that though he did not campaign in the election, yet his party had done well, Kumaraswamy said.
The JD(S) has done well inspite of his not campaigning in the elections unlike his coalition partner BJP and opposition Congress, whose top leaders undertook electioneering on a large scale, he added.
Though the outcome of the elections held in 209 ULBs will have no bearing on the JD(S)-BJP coalition government, it would affect the proposed parleys between the allies on power transfer, which has run into rough weather now.
BJP senior leader Yashwant Sinha is camping in the city and is expected to call on JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda this evening to sort out differences between the parties and ensure smooth transfer of power.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders refused to react to the dismal performance of the party and chose to wait till the process of counting ended and the final tally emerged.
Elections were held in 4,920 wards on September 28 and in 85 candidates were elected unopposed.