No one in favour of bypolls in Karnataka

An ‘ek din ka sultan’ (king for one day) syndrome has hit political parties in Karnataka with the announcement of byelections in the state.

With the general elections just months away, the three major parties in the state BJP, Congress and JD(S) show no interest in the bypolls announced to Ballari, Shivamogga and Mandya Lok Sabha seats.

The newly elected members would face the Lok Sabha just once or twice and within five months and they would lose their seats once the House is dissolved for general elections.

What is the use of having such bypolls when candidates would be forced to spend money only to lose their seats a few months later? The election commission too will have to spend considerable money of the public on these polls. These bypolls are nothing but waste of public money and time, said a senior Congress leader.

However, there is a silver lining. The results could be an indicator of 2019 general polls and political parties cannot afford to miss the bypolls altogether. But there is a question mark on whether the Congress will enter into a pact with the JD(S). In some seats the JD(S) is keen on going it alone without the support of the Congress.

Meanwhile, KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara have expressed party’s apprehension by saying bypolls were “uncalled for”.

“The byelections were uncalled for as the tenure of the new members will be just six or seven months,” Gundurao said, while Parameshwara said the EC’s announcement was “surprising”.

BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa also termed the bypolls “unnecessary”, but added that the BJP candidates will be finalised soon.