URBAN LOCAL bodies election proved to be a major embarrassment for the heavyweights of various political parties. They failed to protect their citadel against the onslaught of the rival candidates.
Though Samajwadi Party bagged large number of chairman’s posts in Nagar Palika Parishad and Nagar Panchayats, but defeat of the candidates in Mainpuri and Kannauj considered to be stronghold of SP proved to be a major jolt for the party leadership.
At Mainpuri while BSP-supported independent candidates grabbed three chairman nagar panchayat seats, SP could manage only two chairman’s posts. Dharmendra Yadav nephew of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh represents Mainpuri in Lok Sabha.
Results in Kannauj proved to be another setback for the party. Akhilesh Yadav, son of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav represents Kannauj in the Lok. Samajwadi Party has put in its full strength to ensure the victory of its candidate. But the independent candidates walked away with all the three nagar palika chairman seats here.
Congress candidates faced humiliation in Amethi that was considered an impregnable fort. Independent candidates grabbed four chairman nagar panchayats posts including Amethi, Musafirkhana, Dastpur and Kadipur while BJP captured the Kastpur nagar panchayat seat.
{{/usCountry}}Congress candidates faced humiliation in Amethi that was considered an impregnable fort. Independent candidates grabbed four chairman nagar panchayats posts including Amethi, Musafirkhana, Dastpur and Kadipur while BJP captured the Kastpur nagar panchayat seat.
{{/usCountry}}Former UPCC president Jagdambika Pal suffered his humiliation in his stronghold Basti. His wife Snehlata Pal stood at third position in the nagar palika parishad elections.
Samajwadi Party snatched the prestigious Shahjhanpur Nagar Palika Parishad seat from Congress. The prestige of the Congress MP Jitin Prasad was at stake here. He had campaigned vigorously for the party candidate.
Rival political parties raided Barabanki, said to be another stronghold of the Samajwadi Party. Considered strong base of the SP strongman Beni Prasad Verma and Minister Arvind Gope, Samwajwadi Party faced defeats in the nagar palika parishad and nagar panchayat elections. Out of the 12 seats, SP managed to retain only Sidhaur Nagar Panchayat seat.
Scene was no different in Deoria, another strong fort of Samajwadi Party.
National General Secretary of SP Mohan Singh represents the Lok Sabha seat from here. Independent candidates walked away with three nagar palika parishad seats here.
Social Welfare Minister Awadesh Prasad faced embarrassment in his home turf Faizabad as BSP-supported candidate secured victory on Bhadarsha Nagar Panchayat seat. Stamp and Registration Minister Hari Shankar Tewari too faced humiliation in his stronghold as an independent candidate grabbed the Barhalganj nagar panchayat seat.
Giving a rude shock to Food and Civil Supplies Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, the BJP candidate Hari Pratap Singh captured the Pratapgarh Nagar Palika Parishad chairman’s seat. In Jhansi, SP strongman and MP Chandrapal Singh Yadav got shock at the hand of the voters as BJP and independent candidate captured two Nagar Panchayats seats each. SP had to remain content with one seat only. rajesh.singh@hindustantimes.com