Battle for new black gold heightens

That's the question being hotly debated in Karnataka's political circles as iron-ore rich Bellary district moves towards the second phase of the elections on Friday.

With demand for the new black gold (iron ore) increasing in both domestic and international markets, the district's poll scene is seeing a high-voltage drama with owners of mines slugging it out for a slice of power. The district has around 1.5 million voters in the nine assembly constituencies of Bellary, Bellary city, Sandur, Kudligi, Siraguppa, Kampli, Hadagali, Hagaribommanahalli and Vijayanagar.

There are 90 candidates in the fray and of these about 10 candidates are mine owners. The mining lobby backs another two-dozen candidates.

Though the fight is between the BJP and Congress, ideologies and principles of the parties play second fiddle in the district. Instead, it has become a battle for