Ward bypoll : JD(S)-BJP to defeat Congress

BANGALORE: Political parties worked tirelessly to ensure their candidate's victory in Banashankari Temple ward byelection. But there was more to decipher in this keenly fought elections than what meets the eye. Allegations and counterallegations have raised questions on whose loyalty lies where.
The elections were conducted smoothly, thanks to the police bandobast. However, many of the party hopefuls were nowhere to be seen during the voting. Most prominent in this 'missing' list was JD(S) candidate Mohammed Akbar, brother of excorporator late Diwan Ali. Akbar was not seen in any of the polling stations. His brother Mohammed Nayaz who has no reported animosity with his brothers had also filed his nominations as an independent candidate.By being absent during the polling, the duo may have not only failed to cash in on sympathy votes, but also came under fire for allegedly backing the BJP indirectly. In fact, Congress leader Gurappa Naidu alleged that the JD(S) and the BJP had conspired to help the latter win, so as to defeat the Congress. With two prominent names in the list of 12 candidates Mohammed Akbar of JD(S) and A H Basavaraj of (BJP) Congress candidate Ansar Pasha was not even considered competition. That the rival parties are wary of him came out in the open only around the end of voting.