Parties asked to stay away from MES

Kannada organisations have urged all parties not to venture into post-poll alliances with the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in the Belagavi City Corporation elections.“We are asking the BJP, Congress an

Kannada organisations have urged all parties not to venture into post-poll alliances with the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in the Belagavi City Corporation elections. “We are asking the BJP, Congress and other parties to stay away from the MES,” Ashok Chandaragi, convenor of the Action committee of Kannada organisations in Belagavi on Friday. “There is no need to either seek their support or support them either in the election of councillors or in the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. If any party tries that, we will complain against them to the State government and protest against the leaders who entered into such alliances,” he said. Mr. Chandaragi and other members of Kannada organisations like Moinuddin Makandar and Deepak Guadaganatti, told journalists that they would strongly oppose any such political alliances. “It is likely that either a national or a regional party will come to power in the BCC. But if the results are not conclusive and no party gets a majority, there is a possibility that some may try to form alliances with the MES,” he said. “For the first time since the formation of the BCC, the elections are being held on the basis of party affiliations. It is very likely that all parties will try to occupy the Mayor’s chair. They may even try to buy out Independents or engineer defections. Some leaders may try to come to power by winning over some MES councillors to their side. We are appealing to all parties not to do so. If they do, then we will organise a serious agitation,” he said.