Rashmi Ranjan

Despite 22 years of ruling in the State, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had to use money and muscle powers to secure win in the recently concluded Odisha Urban Elections, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi claimed on Sunday.

Expressing gratitude, the parliamentarian thanked the voters of Bhubaneswar for showing trust in BJP and supporting the party candidates in the ULB polls held on March 24.

Speaking to media, the Sarangi said, “I happy that BJP’s mayoral candidate for the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Suniti Mund amassed over 1.14 lakh votes and 10 party candidates won corporator seats with confidence of people and promise of development.”

“We have not performed well in the urban elections and I accept our defeat. I think we need to further strengthen our state leadership. Besides, we need to strengthen our party from grassroot-level to top leadership. But I would like to ask why BJD is so nervous? And I am also asking, why is it using money and muscle power to win the mandate of the people even though it has remained in power for more than two decades” Sarangi said.

However, the BJD has not issued any reaction on Sarangi’s allegations. 

Notably, BJD has won a total of 73 chairperson posts out of 105 municipalities/NACs and also clinched all the three mayor seats in all the municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur.

The BJP remained in second position by winning 16 chairperson seats while Congress won 7 seats and independent candidates in nine.

Similarly, out of 1,716 councillor seats in the 105 municipalities and NACs, the BJD bagged 1,175 seats, BJP got 288, Congress -- 134, BSP -- 1, CPI -- 1, and Independent -- 117.

Out of 67 corporator seats in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the BJD won 48, BJP got 10 and the Congress failed to register a win and remained in the fourth position. The independent candidates won 9 seats.

The BJD won 38 out of 59 corporator seats in Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), followed by Congress (8), BJP (7) and independent (6).

In Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC), the BJD won 30 corporator seats while the BJP candidates won 7 seats.

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