BJD-BJP Combine sweeps Civic Polls in Orissa

Breaking News! Defying all permutations and combinations, the Biju Janata Dal emerged as a strong force in the civil polls in Orissa. The BJD-BJP combine won in 54 civic bodies, while the Congress won 14 on its own. BJD alone won 24 civic bodies, while BJP bagged six. The BJD-BJP combine established supremacy in 24 other civic bodies. In an interesting development, independent candidates won 4 civic bodies in the state, while Jajpur went to Samajwadi Party.

The BJD-BJP combine and Congress won equal number of seats in three civic bodies. In the remaining 17 civic bodies, the fight is very close the results could go either way when the elections for the posts of Chairpersons will be held. BJD sweeps Jeypore by a huge margin. While the party candidates won in 27 wards, the Congress could win one a single seat. BJP drew a blank here. The BJD also made a clean sweep in Kodala and Chikiti NACs by winning all seats.

BJD almost swept the Coastal districts and also won in Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Umerkote. The BJD also won in Rourkela, Puri, Nayagarh, Pipli, Khurda, Gopalpur and Bhanjnagar. BJP managed to retain Sambalpur, Talcher, Junagarh, Dhenkanal, Patnagarh and Hirakud. The Congress managed to win Angul, Kantabanji, Jatni, Konark, Khandapada and Deogarh.

The civic elections were held for 34 Municipalities and 54 NACs (Notified Area Councils). Polling could not be held in Athamallick because of floods, while Boudh NAC did not go to polls because of Kandhamal violence. There are 90 civic bodies in Orissa. BJP won the maximum number of seats - 586 out of 1518 with a net gain of 56 seats as compared to the last elections. Congress, which won 502 seats last time, lost 71 seats by bagging 431 seats. BJP also lost 47 seats. The party won 287 seats as compared to 334 last time.

Elections to choose the Chairpersons in all Municipalities and NACs will be held on September 30. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the massive victory as a mandate for his government. However, PCC President Jayadev Jena alleged that BJD-BJP combine won using money and muscle power.