There remains just one more day for the voters of the Gandhinagar ward to choose their representative for the bypoll to be held on Sunday.
On Friday, candidates of five political parties and four Independents in the fray stopped public campaigning. Apart from the three major parties — the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) — candidates from Janata Dal (U) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam are contesting the election.
The bypoll is being held owing to the gruesome murder of Congress councillor S. Natraj on October 1.
The candidates from the BJP, Congress and JD(S) are confident of winning. While the Congress is confident of retaining the seat, BJP workers claim the other candidates are “weak”. The JD(S), on the other hand, is positive of being chosen as the candidate is a “local, unlike the other”.
However, it appears that the fight is going to be between BJP candidate G. Ramachandra and Congress candidate T. Gopalakrishna. The Congress is going all out to retain the seat, considering that Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao represents Gandhinagar Assembly Constituency.
“The party has been chosen by the voters for several years now because of our good work. The BJP's chances are slim as it is not able to sort the affairs within the party itself. Also, people are disenchanted with the BJP Government in the State,” a party worker said.
Low margin
The BJP lost the previous election by a margin of a mere 500-odd votes. Mr. Ramachandra claims to have the support of P.C. Mohan, MP, who is said to be the BJP's candidate for the Gandhinagar constituency for next year's Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, Congress and JD(S) workers allege that the BJP is misusing the official machinery to ensure its victory. They alleged that the BJP had promised to give Rs. 1,000 to each household, mainly in slum areas.
JD(S) workers claimed that the BJP had brought some anti-social elements to the ward. “They have been threatening the workers of other parties. The BJP had a brainstorming session with these anti-social elements at Kumara Krupa Guesthouse a week ago,” they alleged.
The results of the bypoll will be announced on Wednesday.
