UP civic polls: BSP bags Aligarh mayoral seat in stunning victory, leads in Meerut

The victory marks a comeback for the BSP after the thrashing in the assembly elections in March.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) pulled off a stunning victory, winning the Aligarh mayoral seat while it leads in Meerut nagar nigam too showing sings not only of its revival but also its penetration in cities.

A counting centre in Bareilly where counting began on Friday after the three-phase election for 16 municipal corporations of Uttar Pradesh. (HT Photo)

The BJP has won four mayoral seats Ayodhya, Mathura, Saharanpur and Moradabad so far while the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress are nowhere in the picture.

However, the SP is doing well in nagar panchayats (semi urban bodies).

This seems to be the BJP vs the BSP if the results/trends in the nagar nigams are anything to go by giving a big boost the latter’s sagging morale after its debacle in the assembly polls only eight months ago.

The BSP had contested the local polls on its symbol for the first time though the party kept the campaign a low-key affair.