BJP’s grand victory in UP Civic Polls; BSP became runner-up, Congress vanished

Lucknow, December 1: Bharatiya Janata Party has successfully maintained its grip on its strongholds in Urban Local Bodies. The ruling BJP wins 14 out of 16 mayoral seats in Uttar Pradesh civic polls as counting of votes is in progress, for all the 652 urban local bodies. Formal announcement of result is awaited.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "These elections are to make us responsible and will open the eyes of everyone along with those who are connecting it with Gujarat. The main blow to the Congress is that it has lost in Amethi.

According to State election commission, 622 results of ward members of Municipal Corporations, Nagar Palika Parishads and Nagar Panchayats have been declared. Of them 308 have gone in the favour of BJP, Bahujan Samaj Party has won 113, Samajwadi Party 157 wards. Congress has won only 44 wards.

Meanwhile, BJP has maintained its lead in Bareily and Allahabad Municipal corporations where party had lost in 2012 elections. Party has also shown encouraging trends in newly constituted Saharanpur, Firozabad, Faizabad and Mathura Municipal.

BSP has maintained its lead in Meerut, Jhansi, and Agra Municipal corporations. Jhansi Meerut and Agra Corporations are likely to go in the favour of BSP where In 2012 election BJP was the winner.

Top opposition parties, Samajwadi Party and Congress are unable to open their accounts for mayoral posts. In Naga Palika Parishad and Nagar Panchayat elections Samajwadi Party and BSP both have given a tough fight to the BJP.

Independent candidates have also shown encouraging performance in the poll. It was the first major election after Yogi Adityanath Government came into power in the state and BJP has performed very well.

BJP is leading in most of the Nagar Palika and Nagar Panchayats for Chairmen posts. counting of votes of 652 Urban Local Bodies Elections is underway in peaceful manner under tight security.

The polling percentage of the third phase on November 29 in 26 districts of the state witnessed a voter turnout of 53 percent. The previous two phases of polling on November 22 and 26 had recorded a turnout of 52.59 and 49.3 respectively taking the average of all the three phases to 52.5 percent.

The overall percentage recorded an improvement from 46.2 per cent in 2012 to 52.5 per cent this time.

The election campaign generated a lot of political heat with the ruling BJP leaving nothing to chance. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criss-crossed the state to woo voters in the name of development, while opposition SP, BSP and Congress campaigns were comparatively low key.

Both SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati did not campaign for their candidates.