Vijayapura: After the State Election Commission (SEC) announcing the dates for the Gram Panchayat polls, the three major parties – Congress, BJP and the JD(S) – have started chalking out strategies for the ‘rural fight’ in the district.
Though the GP elections are not fought based on any party symbol, it is an open secret that the political parties play a crucial role in these ‘rural elections’ as the elections prepare the ground for the parties in the rural areas.
Considering the significance of the election, all the three major parties of the state have started preparing to ensure that the candidates backed by them win to create a base for themselves in rural areas.
In this battle for the GP polls, the BJP is apparently ahead in preparing and organizing the campaign effectively against its political rivals- the Congress and the JD(S).
The BJP has already made elaborate plans to ensure the victory of as many candidates backed by them. In this regard, the party has launched the ‘Gram Swaraj’ campaign, where it is holding conventions in all taluks by constituting different teams.
Recently, the party held two major conventions in the district, one each in Vijayapura and Talikot, led by Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol.
The party has not left any stone unturned ahead the polls, mobilizing activists to prepare for the same.
When it comes to the Congress, even though they have not officially announced any mega campaign so far, the leaders have claimed that they have already started preparations at the ground level for the elections.
“We have already begun holding meetings with the local leaders in different taluks and are giving them the required responsibilities. I am personally holding meetings and seeing to it that the party workers are prepared for the elections,” said District Congress Committee (DCC) president and former MLA Raju Algur.
Asked whether the party plans to hold a ‘Gram Swaraj’-like mega event in the district, Algur, who tried to downplay the BJP’s programme, said that the party does not require such events as it already has a base in the rural areas.
When contacted, JD(S) district president Mallikarjun Yendigeri also claimed that the party has a strong base in the rural areas. “The JD(S), which is a party of the rural people, has a base. Therefore, we are hopeful that more candidates supported by the JD(S) will emerge victorious,” he said.
Yendigeri, however, said that the district unit has already started holding various meetings to prepare the activists for the elections.
According to the district administration, of the total 212 GPs of the district, the polling can’t be held in 11 GPs for various reasons. The district will go for elections in two phases – on December 22 and 27 – while the counting will be held on December 30.
