The Hindu : Front Page : Landslide for Congress in local polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

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Landslide for Congress in local polls

S. Nagesh Kumar

Telugu Desam Party a poor second; TRS, BJP no better; Left parties do well

CROWN FOR CAPTAIN: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy adjusts a headgear presented to him by his partymen in Hyderabad on Monday after the Congress registered a significant victory in the local body elections. — Photo: Mohamm ed Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Maintaining the winning run it began in the Assembly polls, the ruling Congress registered a landslide victory in the municipal elections held on September 24, leaving its main challenger, the Telugu Desam Party, a poor second.

The Congress bagged 1906 out of 3500 wards and divisions against the Telugu Desam Party's tally of 973. When translated roughly into winning margins, these numbers mean that the Congress candidates will be catapulted to the posts of municipal chairperson in around 75 out of 96 municipalities, TDP in 10, the TRS in two, and the CPI (M) in one.

Among the 10 municipal corporations where results were announced (polling will be completed in Vijayawada only on September 30), the Congress secured a majority on its own in seven and won 25 out of 50 wards in Warangal. However, in the violence-marred election in the Nellore Municipal Corporation, the TDP won 20 divisions as against the Congress' 19. Voters in the 50-strong Karimnagar Municipal Corporation threw up a hung verdict by electing 15 corporators of the TDP, 13 of the Congress, two BJP, one TRS and 19 others.

Crucial vote

However, the overall fortunes of the parties are likely to alter, though marginally, on September 30 when councillors and corporators assemble to elect their respective civic chiefs. Much will depend on how the political parties decide upon their alliance in the coming four days. Another crucial factor that will tilt the balance in municipalities with slender margins is the vote of MLAs and MPs.

In Chittoor, home district of TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, Guntur, Kurnool, Cuddapah and Srikakulam, the TDP is in no position to get its partymen elected chairpersons or Mayor. Its rout was complete in some places like Tuni Municipality in East Godavari district where the Congress swept all the 30 wards on offer.

The TRS' performance belied its confidence about winning many municipalities on its own in Telangana without the Congress' backing. But, in the final reckoning, it could get a clear majority only in Sangareddy and Siddipet though it's claimed to be in a position to influence the chairpersons' choice in five others. Interestingly, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced that he was willing to once again share support with the TRS.

Negative campaign

The junior partner in another alliance, the BJP, also fared poorly in the civic polls. Except in Narayanpet Municipality in Mahabubnagar district, it did not count for much in the elections. Overall, it bagged 86 wards and divisions.

The Left parties did relatively much better by winning 138 seats between them, some in alliance with the Congress.

They are poised to have their nominee as Chairperson of Khammam Municipality with the Congress support .

Congress leaders believe that the TDP was routed mainly because of its negative campaign, much of it directed against the Chief Minister.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, who interrupted his tour of the flood-hit areas in Krishna district after the results, attribute his party's debacle to large-scale malpractices by the Congress

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