A day before the counting of votes and announcement of results for the Odisha Urban Elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) exuded confidence that its candidates will secure win in around 30-35 Municipal seats.
“As per the assessment made by party leaders, our vote percentage has increased. The educated voters in the urban areas have mostly voted in BJP’s favour. We are confident that the number of seats for BJP will increase than last time. As per my estimate, we will win around 30-35 Municipal seats,” said senior BJP leader Bishnu Sethi.
Meanwhile, Congress has predicted that they will grab around 17 seats.
“There is no democracy in the State. The ruling party is buying votes by splurging money. However, the Congress will win around 17 seats and remain in the second position. Our party will dominate in Jatni and Cuttack. But BJD will perform well in Bhubaneswar,” said senior Congress leader Sura Routray, adding that BJP will finish third in the table.
Senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra, Congress has given tough fight to BJD and BJP and it will be evident in the results to be announced on Saturday.
“Our party has given a tough fight to BJD and we are hopeful of a good result. However, the ruling party is known for resorting to unfair means to win elections and it may reflect in the final results,” said Mishra.
On the other hand, bolstered by the result in the recently-concluded Panchayat elections, BJD is confident that the party is going to replicate the performance in the Urban Local Body Elections as well.
“Our party will win around 95 per cent seats in the Urban Local Body Elections. There will be no impact of the Opposition parties on the poll outcome,” said BJD leader Raj Kishore Das.