Set back for BJP in Sriganganagar civic bypoll

Even when BJP candidate Jaideep Bihani had won in Vidhan Sabha election from Sriganganagar constituency and the Municipal Council has BJP nominee Gagandeep Kaur as chairperson, the saffron party today suffered a setback at the hands of Congress in the by-election of Ward No. 25.

Voting for the by-election in the ward was held yesterday, 1,365 out of eligible 2,200 voters had polled votes. By-election had to be conducted after the death of Congress councillor Surjit Kaur Bhullar.

When the results of the counting of votes was declared today, BJP was in a frenzy. There was a wave of celebration in the Congress camp. According to the results, Congress’ Rajwinder Arora got 90 votes more than BJP’s Nirmaljit Kaur. A total of 11 votes went to NOTA’s account.

During the election campaign, BJP MLA Jaideep Bihani visited each street in the ward several times. On the other hand, Congress district president Ankur Miglani had come only on the occasion of inauguration of the election office of party candidate Rajwinder. Other Congress officials and workers were kept engaged in the election campaign.

When newly elected councillor Rajwinder reached the office of the District Congress Committee today, with a procession of her supporters, she was given a warm welcome. The workers spread gulal (dry colors) and expressed happiness by beating the drums and distributing sweets.

Miglani said that people have rejected the BJP. Today’s election results proved that the people were not happy with the policies and programmes of the saffron party.

It is noteworthy that Municipal Council elections are to be held at the end of this year. Today’s poll result sounds an alarm, people said.