Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) once again proved its popularity in the State capital by registering a resounding victory, winning 49 wards in 67-ward Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). BJP and Congress managed to bag four and two wards respectively while the independent candidates among whom most of them are said to be the rebel leaders of BJD grabbed 12 wards.
The Naveen Patnaik-led party which was in a celebration mood following its thumping victory, has thanked city citizens and party workers and vowed to continue good works for the Capital city.
“I would like to thank the people of Bhubaneswar for having voted so generously for the Biju Janata Dal and to the party workers for having worked so hard. And we will continue the good works for the city of Bhubaneswar,” BJD president and CM Naveen Patnaik said.
On the other hand, Congress is finding it hard to concede the poll results. “I fail to accept the BMC results under any circumstances. I mean it as the ruling party used all possible unfair technologies to capture the corporation. However, such results would not influence the forthcoming general elections,” PCC president Jayadev Jena said.
The BJD which put up an impressive show in the civic bodies in coastal and southern Odisha that went to poll in September later secured an overwhelming majority in the ULBs of western Odisha in October.
In the first phase of ULB polls held on September 19 last year for 65 bodies, the party-in-power registered a majority in 41 places.
Similarly, the party wrest control over 15 of 20 municipalities and notified area councils (NACs) in the second phase of urban elections in western region of the State held on November 23, 2013.
Elections could not be held in western Odisha in September after the nomination process was hit by lawyers' protests demanding establishment of a high court bench in the western region.