It’s official. The JD(S) will continue its alliance with the BJP in Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, thereby shutting doors for any tie-up with its coalition partner the Congress in the local body. The elections to the posts of president and vice-president of the ZP is scheduled to be held on Saturday.
The Congress, with 22 members on its side, had evinced interest to align with the JD(S) being the partners in the State for capturing power in the ZP. Both parties have come together in the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) on a power-sharing formula. The Congress wanted a similar arrangement at the Mysuru ZP.
The Congress is the single largest party in the 49-member house with 22 seats, while the JD(S) has18 seats, BJP has 8, and there is one Independent member. The JD(S) decision has perhaps upset the Congress camp.
Minister in-charge of Mysuru district G.T. Deve Gowda categorically said on Friday that the question of going with the Congress does not arise at this stage since his party had an understanding with the BJP for ruling the ZP for a full five year period.
“We cannot break the alliance midway. Also, the JD(S) members and party MLAs too had expressed their wish to continue with the BJP for the remaining one and half years,” Mr. Gowda added.
“Mahesh (Minister for Tourism and Sericulture S.R. Mahesh) has conveyed the party’s decision to KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao. Our member will be the president and the BJP member will occupy the post of vice-president for the remaining term,” the Minister told reporters here on Friday.
When asked why the JD(S) refused to go with the Congress when it was a coalition partner, Mr. Gowda said his party was complying with the old understanding and moreover there was no fresh election as in the case of the MCC. “On our party high command’s decision, we went with the Congress in the MCC. Here, in the ZP, the deal is for five years and we are following it. That’s all. No special meaning should be attached to our move,” he replied. ZP president Nayeema Sultana of the JD(S) and Nataraj, a BJP member, tendered their resignations in December last to pave the way for the election of new president and vice-president.