Coalition partners Congress and the Janata Dal (S) are up against their latest challenge on whether to tie-up for the upcoming elections to 108 urban local bodies (ULBs) in Karnataka or fight independently with both parties acknowledging that an alliance at a local level would be difficult. The coalition government in the state has had a rocky existence so far and has faced a series of challenges. While it has so far managed to pass these hurdles, there has been a lot of damage with senior leaders especially in the Congress openly airing differences with the JD(S). ULB polls are viewed as barometer of the mood of the people in the state. The last time these polls for these 108 bodies were held was in February 2013, two months before the assembly elections that year, and had proved to be a pointer to the eventual sweep by the Congress in the assembly polls. Hence, there is a lot riding on these polls as LS polls are less than a year away.