Bengaluru: Following the rout in the legislative council elections, Congress is now exploring early panchayat and Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections to counter the clean sweep by BJP and JD(S).Sources say party brass is considering holding polls later this year or early next year to demonstrate its organisational strength. The calculation is simple. A win in rural polls could blunt the opposition’s claim of rising strength, while a poor showing would hand rivals fresh ammunition. Victory could also rebuild confidence among functionaries and supporters ahead of the 2028 assembly polls.This week’s defeat does not threaten the govt’s majority in the council, but it has raised pointed questions on campaign planning and voter mobilisation, especially since 19 ministers were deployed to campaign.CM DK Shivakumar and Congress state president BK Hariprasad must now align the govt with party organisation. The polls were their first major electoral test since Siddaramaiah was eased out as CM.“This defeat calls for a review of grassroots network and of coordination between ministers and local functionaries,” said a senior Congress functionary. “Being in govt does not bring votes unless party organisation is active on the ground.”Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency result adds another dimension. Congress candidate Puttanna, who had won four consecutive elections, lost to JD(S) candidate AP Ranganath by 908 votes. The seat has a sizeable Vokkaliga and Dalit electorate, communities Congress wants to retain, and with Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, now CM, the loss hurt its efforts to consolidate its social coalition.Congress must also explain why it failed in seats where it felt secure. Meanwhile, BJP and JD(S) avoided contests against each other in all four seats, consolidating their respective support bases and maximising the alliance’s advantage. If BJP and JD(S) carry this understanding into local body polls, Congress will have a massive challenge on its hands.“Candidate selection, local equations and transfer of votes between alliance partners would have influenced the outcome,” said Vishwas Shetty, a political analyst. “Going forward, Congress has a serious challenge. While the party is confident of taluk and zilla panchayat polls, GBA elections could be tougher given support for BJP in urban centres.”Hariprasad faces scrutiny too. His detractors have repeatedly questioned his electoral record, pointing out that he has never won a direct election. The results will intensify demands that the organisation show it can mobilise voters and deliver gains.“Congress cannot treat local body polls merely as a chance to change the narrative,” said analyst MN Patil. “Early elections would test whether ministers, legislators and district functionaries can work together and whether the party has corrected shortcomings exposed by the MLC defeat. Hariprasad may have to focus more on results than rhetoric now.”Siddaramaiah remains influential among Ahinda voters, comprising minorities, backward classes and Dalits, but the party must convert that support into votes. The controversy over the alleged sting operation involving the former CM adds to the party’s challenges and must not distract it from governance and party work.
