ZP/TP polls: Congress may face fresh troubles in DK, Udupi

Mangaluru/Udupi, Jan 12: Even though the Congress party in the twin districts of coastal Karnataka has managed to overcome rebellion in recently held Legislative council polls, it may face fresh troubles in the looming Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat polls in both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

The massive dissidence in the Congress was evident the last month with some leaders of in the district openly backing the independent candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde, who was expelled for contesting against the official candidate.

Another Congress leader Harikrishna Bantwal, known as the right-hand of party veteran B Janardhana Poojary, has continued his tirade against Oscar Fernandes, Veerappa Moily and Vinay Kumar Sorake, after the poll defeat.

In Udupi, as many as two Congress leaders have been expelled for anti-party activity, and three others have been suspended, while the District Congress Committee (UDCC) has recommended the expulsion of former Zilla Panchayat President B. Bhujanga Shetty to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Party.

According to sources in the Congress, the fact that the dissidence in Congress had come out so openly was bound to affect the chances of the Congress in forthcoming elections, at least in some pockets of the twin districts.

But this would also depend on the fact on whether supporters of Mr Mr Hegde and M. Bantwal contest the polls or tacitly back someone in it.

“The people will react to the high-handed manner in which some Congress leaders have behaved in the run-up to the Council polls during the ZP polls,” said Rajesh Shetty Birti, a supporter of Mr. Hegde.

Cong vs BJP

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), which is closely observing the developments in the coastal region, has issued a direction that a district-level election committee be constituted for selecting candidates for the polls. It would be headed by the district in-charge Minister.

Those general aspirants who would like to contest in the zilla panchayat elections would have to pay the party Rs 10,000 and those seeking ticket for the taluk panchayat polls would have to pay Rs 5,000 while filing their applications.

The committee would scrutinise the applications and decide who should contest based on reservations announced, said a senior Congress leader.

Previously, there were 35 constituencies in Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, which have increased to 36 constituencies after the fresh delimitation process. Similarly, out of the existing 25 constituencies in Udupi zilla panchayat, one was removed and two new constituencies were included, making a total of 26 constituencies.

In the outgoing house in DK, the BJP has 24 seats and the Congress 11 seats. In Udupi, the BJP has 16 seats and the Congress nine.