The elections to the zilla and the taluk panchayats scheduled to be held over the next fortnight, with the first phase of the poll scheduled on February 13, are expected to be a pointer to the people’s preference, ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections tentatively scheduled in 2018.
It is the first major election spread across the State after the elections to the Assembly held in May 2013. Consequently, it will show up whether the people are continuing with their loyalty to the ruling Congress or not. Unlike the elections to the gram panchayat, which are apolitical, elections to the zilla and the taluk panchayats forming part of the Panchayat Raj administration are on political lines, with the mainstream political parties fielding their candidates.
The byelections to three seats of the Legislative Assembly — Hebbal , Deodurg and Bidar — are also being held on February 13, but this does not have as much importance as the taluk and zilla panchayat elections given the fact that the Congress enjoys a good majority in the Lower House of the legislature. On the contrary, elections to the Panchayat Raj bodies will be an eye-opener on the preference of the people, not merely at the present juncture, but on the likely trend in the next round of Legislative Assembly elections.
The polls are no less important for the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular). The BJP has forged a good strategy for the elections, and the leaders and workers are spread out across the State, and their focus, as is evident, is to score a majority in as many zilla and taluk panchayats. The JD(S) too is leaving no stone unturned, particularly in the old Mysore region.
In contrast, leaders of the Congress, in particular the Ministers, have restricted their campaigning in the districts with which they have been vested with responsibility.
Barring the Chief Minister, none of them is campaigning all over the State, and in the bargain, the Congress is losing on the distinct advantage that it enjoys as the ruling party.
The local body elections are seen as an ‘acid test’ for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is believed to be under intense scrutiny by the Congress high command.
This was exhibited by the manner in which the Chief Minister’s choice of candidates for the Assembly byelections was turned down. Mr. Siddaramaiah told The Hindu that “the climate is good for the Congress, beyond expectations”, and that it will do exceedingly well in the zilla and the taluk panchayats.
A victory in a majority of the zilla and the taluk panchayats and added to this a victory in at least two of the three seats in the byelections to the Legislative Assembly will enable the Chief Minister to emerge much more stronger, and also serve to put down his detractors.
A poor performance in the elections will result in him having to answer the queries that are likely to be raised by the Congress high command.
( The writer is Resident Representative, The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy, Bengaluru )
