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BJD-BJP come out tops in Orissa civic polls
Bhubaneswar, Sept 21: Contesting the civic polls in Orissa without entering into any alliance, the ruling BJD and BJP have wrested control respectively of 23 and seven urban local bodies out of the 96 which went to the polls on Friday.
Bhubaneswar, Sept 21: Contesting the civic polls in Orissa without entering into any alliance, the ruling BJD and BJP have wrested control respectively of 23 and seven urban local bodies out of the 96 which went to the polls on Friday.
The opposition Congress had grabbed 19 civic bodies while the polls threw up hung councils in 22 cities and towns where the sizeable number of independent victors would play a crucial role in determining which party would have its chairperson.
According to State Election Commission (SEC) sources, of the 1629 wards in the 96 civic bodies to which elections were held the BJD won 530 seats while the BJP secured 334 seats.
The opposition Congress candidates emerged victorious in 502 wards to finish a close second behind the BJD. As the BJD and BJP were in a position to wrest control of the councils in 20 civic bodies including the two municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, feverish attempts had begun between party leaders to enter into post-poll alliances.
The two parties, which could not agree on seat sharing and decided to have friendly contests in most urban centres prior to the elections have found that their not sticking together had cost them greatly and provided a boost to the opposition Congress.
"Yes, we are looking at this possibility and we don't think there will be any difficulty," a BJP leader said. BJD sources also indicated that they were examining the matter.
Political analysts, however, feel that the two parties had no other option but to come together to ensure that their candidates could be elected chairpersons in the 20 councils.
The Janata Dal(S) secured absolute majority in Jajpur municipal council, the hometurf of the state party chief Ashok Das, by bagging 13 of the 16 seats.
Interestingly, independent candidates were elected in a majority in Kodala, Aska and Khariar Road notified area councils. Bureau Report
According to State Election Commission (SEC) sources, of the 1629 wards in the 96 civic bodies to which elections were held the BJD won 530 seats while the BJP secured 334 seats.
The opposition Congress candidates emerged victorious in 502 wards to finish a close second behind the BJD. As the BJD and BJP were in a position to wrest control of the councils in 20 civic bodies including the two municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, feverish attempts had begun between party leaders to enter into post-poll alliances.
The two parties, which could not agree on seat sharing and decided to have friendly contests in most urban centres prior to the elections have found that their not sticking together had cost them greatly and provided a boost to the opposition Congress.
"Yes, we are looking at this possibility and we don't think there will be any difficulty," a BJP leader said. BJD sources also indicated that they were examining the matter.
Political analysts, however, feel that the two parties had no other option but to come together to ensure that their candidates could be elected chairpersons in the 20 councils.
The Janata Dal(S) secured absolute majority in Jajpur municipal council, the hometurf of the state party chief Ashok Das, by bagging 13 of the 16 seats.
Interestingly, independent candidates were elected in a majority in Kodala, Aska and Khariar Road notified area councils. Bureau Report