The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam on Wednesday registered a massive victory in the municipal board elections by pocketing 75 out of 80 civic boards, data released by the state election commission showed.
While the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), BJP’s alliance partner, won two boards, independent candidates won two while the Congress secured one board.
Welcoming the results, state BJP chief Bhabesh Kalita said: “The people of the state have shown that they do not want Congress’s corruption anymore and have bid goodbye to the party. On the other hand, the immense support we received shows that voters are happy with the work done by the BJP government under the leadership of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.”
Voting for 80 municipal boards was held on March 6. As candidates in 57 wards won uncontested, polling was held in 920 wards across the state. A total of 2,532 candidates were in fray with 825 from the BJP, 706 from Congress, 243 from AGP and 758 Independent candidates.
The civic body poll result came as another blow to the Congress after its defeat in last year’s assembly election and defection of two of its MLAs to the BJP. The party managed to win only the Narayanpur municipal board.
{{/usCountry}}The civic body poll result came as another blow to the Congress after its defeat in last year’s assembly election and defection of two of its MLAs to the BJP. The party managed to win only the Narayanpur municipal board.
{{/usCountry}}“We aren’t surprised by the outcome of the polls and accept the verdict of voters with humility. At present, the BJP has governments both at Centre and in Assam and voters have shown their support to the party in power,” Congress spokesperson Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya said.
Of the total 977 wards, the BJP attained victory in 759, AGP won 65, Congress 76 and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made its debut by winning two wards in Lakhimpur and Tinsukia.
Lauding the party’s performance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Gratitude to the people of Assam for blessing BJP and our allies in the recently concluded municipal elections. This shows their faith in our Party’s development agenda.”
“Congratulations and best wishes to the winners. Beginning of honest and clean politics in Assam too,” AAP chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.