Congress scrapes past BJP, holds JD(S) hand

MYSURU: As in the previous election in 2013, no single party has managed to reach the halfway mark in elections to the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), although BJP posted an impressive performance.

BJP emerged the single largest party with 22 corporators, followed by the Congress with 19 and JD(S) with 18. The BJP contested 61 seats and won nine seats more than in the previous election.

In 2013, Congress emerged the single largest party with 21 seats, but JD(S) (20 seats), tied up with BJP (13 seats) and ruled MCC. However, this time, JD(S) will partner the Congress. The BJP’s popularity among urban voters appears to have grown with the party winning 11 of 20 wards in Krishnaraja segment. It won six of 19 wards in Chamaraja assembly constituency and two of three seats from Chamundeshwari.

Congress won just one ward in Chamaraja segment through its candidate, Usha, from Kumbara Koppal (ward 5). However, it retained its majority in Narashimaraja segment, winning 13 of 23 wards.

Despite chief minister H D Kumaraswamy touring the city, he failed to impress voters. The JD(S) fared poorly in Narasimhajara segment (six seats), Krishnaraja (two seats) and Chamundeshwari (one seat), and managed to save face by winning nine wards in Chamaraja segment.

JD(S) romps home in Mandya

Mandya: JD(S) once again proved that Mandya district is its bastion, emerging victorious in four urban local bodies (ULBs), while the Congress bagged one. The party’s winning streak seems to be continuing, as it had won all seven assembly constituencies in the May election.

The BJP seems to be losing its also-ran party tag in Mandya district, as it has shown impressive results with an increase in its seat and vote share. In Mandya City Municipal Council (CMC), JD(S) garnered a simple majority as it bagged 18 seats of 36. The Congress, in power for five years in the CMC, tasted defeat – it got only 10 seats while BJP was pushed to third place with two seats. Five independents won.

JD(S) swept Pandavapura Town Municipal Council, winning 18 seats while Congress got just three seats. BJP and an independent candidate won a seat each. In Maddur Town Municipal Council, JD(S) won 12 seats while Congress was pushed to second place with barely four seats.

In Nagamangala TMC, an equal fight ensued between JD(S) and Congress. JD(S) succeeded in gaining a thin majority, as it bagged 12 seats while Congress won 11. Bellur TMC is the only ULB where it emerged victorious with seven seats, trouncing JD(S) which won four.

JD(S) retained power in Periyapatna Municipal Council, while there is a fractured mandate in HD Kote and T Narasipura municipal councils. This is first election for the three local bodies, after they were upgraded to municipal councils from town panchayats.