[1]Bengaluru: Will the appallingly low voter turnout in Mandya and Bangalore (Rural) Lok Sabha constituencies benefit the ruling Congress or Janata Dal (S), backed by a combined Opposition?
Leaders of both these parties are concerned as the record low poll percentage would impact the outcome of the prestigious bypolls – one where Congress leaders want to vanquish JD(S) in its home turf while leaders of the principal Opposition party want to retain their hold over Vokkaliga-dominated constituencies.
Frantic calls by JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda to leaders to ensure a high poll percentage in Magadi, Kunigal and Channapatna Assembly segments of Bangalore (Rural) constituency mirrors the anxiety among leaders of Dal.
Congress leaders, who expected the minorities and those belonging to economically weaker sections to turn up in large numbers, are a worried lot as poor numbers could upset their calculations too. “Nothing can be said at present about the party’s prospects,” sources in the Congress said.
BJP leaders, who backed JD(S) candidates Anitha Kumaraswamy and C.S. Puttaraju, are worried about the low turnout in urban areas, saying it does not augur well for the Opposition.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/votingpti1jpg-856