Karnataka: Local bodies’ elections
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2018
Urban local bodies: Cong ahead of BJP
Cong edges out BJP in K’taka civic polls, JD(S) comes third, September 4, 2018: The Times of India
Cong-JD(S) To Take Control Of Most Councils
In the first elections since the JD(S)-Congress coalition government came to power three months ago, Congress edged BJP in 105 urban local bodies (ULBs), results of which were declared on Monday. JD (S) was relegated to the third position. Between them, Congress and JD(S) are set to take control of most councils.
Of the total 2,662 seats — including those in the city corporations of Mysuru, Shivamogga and Tumakuru — Congress bagged 982 seats, BJP 929, JD(S) 375, BSP 13, Independents 329 and others 34. Congress and JD(S), which had announced they would ally post elections, can wrest power in a majority of local bodies with their combined strength.
KC Venugopal, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, said: “The victory of Congress is a mandate against communal and divisive forces in the state.”
Though BJP emerged the single largest party in all three city corporations, it can rule only in Shivamogga, while Congress-JD(S) will ally in Mysuru and Tumakuru. BJP displayed an impressive performance by securing a clear majority in 10 of 29 city municipal councils, an indication that the party continues to be preferred by urban voters, especially in big cities and towns.
Of the total 108 urban local bodies, polls were held in 105. Elections to Kushalnagar, Somawarpet and Virajpet town panchayats in Kodagu district were postponed due to heavy rain and landslides. Fresh dates are yet to be announced. Of the 105 urban local bodies, three were city corporations, 29 city municipal councils, 53 town municipal councils and 20 town panchayats.
Of the total 135 wards in the three city corporations, BJP won 54, Congress 36, JD (S) 30 and BSP 1, and Independents 14. The results also indicate the alliance between Congress and JD(S) did little to help either party consolidate their positions in coastal districts. In Old Mysuru area, JD(S) was way ahead of Congress, while it almost made a clean sweep in Mandya and Hassan districts.
2020
Gram panchayat elections: BJP leads
Karnataka election results: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had claimed that the candidates supported by the ruling BJP are likely to win a majority of the seats.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday said that 60 per cent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-supported candidates have won in the local body elections in the state. The party has captured 3,600-gram panchayats, he said at a press conference.
On Wednesday, Karnataka state election commission had announced the results for 54,041 seats of 5,728 Gram Panchayats, while that of the remaining 36,781 seats were to be announced today. As per the latest reported, the counting is still underway.
However, candidates supported by BJP were leading in 5,255 panchayat seats, while Congress was leading on 3,090 seats. The JD(S), took lead in 1,565-gram panchayats at 2 pm.
The counting was still under process due to the usage of ballot papers.
Meanwhile, both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in Karnataka claimed major victories for candidates backed by them in the recent elections to over 5,700 village panchayats even as the counting of votes was underway.
As per the data, the BJP-backed candidates are leading in 5,340-gram panchayats, Congress - 3,150, JD(S) - 1,580.
As per the Karnataka State Election Commission officials, counting is undergoing at all Taluk headquarters in the state in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols, such as wearing of face mask and maintaining social distancing.
The counting for Karnataka Gram Panchayat Election 2020 is taking place at 226 centres. The election results are expected to be declared by afternoon. Notably, ballot papers were used during the elections, except in Bidar district.
The elections to 5,728 village panchayats were conducted across 226 Taluks of Karnataka for 82,616 seats in two phases - December 22 and 27. A total of 78.58 per cent voting was registered.
The elections were contested by 2,22,814 candidates, out of which 8,074 candidates were elected unopposed.
More than 1,100 security personnel have been positioned at the counting centres, said State Election Commissioner B Basavaraju.
The Karnataka Gram Panchayat Elections do not take place on party symbols. Nevertheless, all political parties have made efforts to ensure that the candidates backed by them register victory in order to maintain their hold on grass-root level politics, which may later prove to be crucial during Taluk or Zilla Panchayat or even Assembly Elections in the future.
Aiming to grab at least 80 per cent of the total seats up for grabs, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had launched its campaign with Gram Swaraj campaign, much before its rivals Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).
2021
Sept:, BJP wins 2 out of 3 municipal-corporations
Sep 7, 2021: The Times of India
BENGALURU: Basavaraj Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka got clear majority in Belagavi and Hubballi-Dharwad in municipal corporation elections while finished a close second in Kalaburagi.
An elated chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who dubbed the election results as a clean sweep in favour of his month-old government in the 'sample test', said the BJP will come to power in all the three municipal corporations. The elections took place on September 3 and the results were announced.
According to the Karnataka State Election Commission officials, in the 58-seat Belagavi, the BJP won 35, Congress 10, Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) one and 12 independents. In 82-seat Hubballi-Dharwad municipal corporation, BJP won 39 seats, Congress 33, AIMIM 3, JD(S) 1, independents six. In Kalaburagi municipal corporation, the elections took place for 55 seats, out of which Congress won 27, BJP 23, JD(S) 4 and independent one seat.
Going by the indications given by Bommai, the BJP, JD(S) and an independent may join hands, a BJP insider claimed. He also did not rule out the possibility of a breakaway group of Congress emerging to support the BJP.
A jubilant Bommai said, "This was almost like a sample test after one month of my taking charge of the office. Out of the three, we have got a clear majority in two municipal corporations and in the third also we are in the close race but we are going to make a majority there also."
He said all the three corporations will have BJP mayors. Bommai congratulated the BJP ministers, MLAs and leaders who toiled hard for the elections in Belagavi. "For the first time in history, the BJP is holding the majority and we will have our own mayor. The MES would have controlled it otherwise," the Chief Minister said.
He said this was a good sign for the government as well as Karnataka. Bommai said Hubballi-Dharwad had been the BJP's fort for a long time while the party is breaking grounds in Kalaburagi. "It's a clean sweep and a drubbing to the Congress. It also shows that the people have faith in the new government," Bommai said.
(With inputs from PTI)
December/ Urban local bodies (ULB)
Dec 31, 2021: The Times of India
BENGALURU: Establishing an edge over BJP in closely contested urban local bodies (ULB) elections in Karnataka, Congress won 498 out of 1,184 wards in 58 urban bodies for which the results were announced. BJP won 437, JD(S) 45 and Independents walked away with 204 seats.
Elections were held to 58 ULBs, 57 gram panchayats and bypolls to nine ULB wards across Karnataka after a three-year delay. Most ULBs have thrown up fractured verdicts and JD(S) could play kingmaker in at least a dozen councils.
Congress, with 42% vote share in the elections, claimed a rise in its support base, while BJP and JD(S) polled 36.9% and 3.8%, respectively. Others got 17.2%. Significantly, Congress has done well in the BJP bastions of Vijayapura, Belagavi and Chikkamagaluru districts. In Vijayapura, Congress has wrested three of the six city municipal corporations.
Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai suffered another setback as Congress won Bankapura municipality, which falls under his Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district. Congress has won 14 wards, BJP seven and Independents two.
