TNN

Bangalore, Jan 3: Will the Congress repeat its performance? Or will the fortunes swing in favour of the BJP, or JD(S), or both, in the ZP/TP polls?

Five years ago, the Congress party's clout at the grassroots was formidable. The party swept the 2000 ZP/TP polls by capturing 25 of 27 ZP seats and secured about 50% seats in 2005. But, despite being the single largest party in the state assembly with 79 seats, the BJP fared miserably in the 2005 ZP and TP elections. In the ZP polls, of the total 1,005 seats, it secured only 145 seats, a meagre 14.42%. In 2005, the JD(S) got 27% ZP seats.

The election results are bound to have their impact not only on chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's future, but also on the hopes of new KPCC president G Parameshwara and JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy, both of whom are desperately trying to revive their party's prospects.

But there's a huge difference between the present and past. The Congress is unlikely to repeat its past glory, while luck seems to favour the BJP and JD(S).

This time, the scam-tainted BJP hasn't left any stone unturned to expand its base in rural areas, while the JD(S) has tried hard to consolidate its position in South Karnataka as well as some North Karnataka districts. The party didn't focus much on coastal areas and in districts like Bellary and Gadag, where its support base is wafer-thin. In case of the Congress, many of its leaders either kept away or didn't campaign actively.

The Congress's loss may primarily benefit the BJP in North Karnataka, and in South Karnataka, it could go to the JD(S), which has an advantage, as a majority of disqualified BJP and independent MLAs are backing it.

The countdown has begun for D-Day - January 4 - when the locked-up luck boxes will be opened to count the ballots.