75% BJP-backed nominees won panchayat, civic bodies: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 11

While claiming 75 per cent victory of BJP-backed candidates in the first phase of the panchayats and civic bodies’ polls, Chief Minister Jai Ram Talking to mediapersons here today, Thakur dared the Congress to form the bodies if it had majority. “It is for the first time that the BJP has performed so well in the election, which reflects the faith people have in the BJP leadership and the government,” he said.

Though the polls are not fought on party symbols, it was clear that the BJP had registered an impressive win in the first round.

The polls for remaining panchayats are to be held in three phases on January 17, 19 and 21. The poll percentage yesterday was 73.

People trust party

It is for the first time that the BJP has performed so well in the elections, which reflects the faith the people have in the party leadership and the government. It is surprising that the Congress is making claims of victory. —Jai Ram Thakur, Chief Minister

“It is surprising that the Congress is trying to make claims of victory. If they have performed so well, then they should form municipal councils and nagar panchayats easily,” he said.

He claimed that the BJP-backed candidates had been elected in 76 of the 102 gram panchayats where there was unanimous elections. Besides, he said the BJP-backed candidates had clear majority in 22 of the 29 municipal councils and 18 of the 21 nagar panchayats. Of the total 414 ward seats, the BJP-backed candidates had won 221 and Congress affiliated in 22, while 49 were either from the CPM or independents.

Thakur thanked the people for supporting the candidates and assured them that the BJP would ensure that there was overall development in the state. “I urge people to elect candidates with a clean image,” he said.

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