UP civic poll: Independents giving tough fight to parties

Lucknow, Nov 6 (UNI) Springing a surprise, Independents were leading in the panchayats while they were neck-and-neck with the main contenders in the Uttar Pradesh urban local bodies poll results declared so far.

Several independents were being supported by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which did not contest the polls.

Of the results of five nagar palika parishad announced so far, three have been won by the BJP, while one each went to the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and Independents.

A total of 90 nagar panchayat election results announced so far, the highest 36 have been cornered by Independents, followed by SP 31, BJP 18. Rest have been won by smaller parties like BS4, RLD and Apna Dal.

Congress received a jolt, when their candidate Lila Devi came on third spot in Amethi nagar panchayat under Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency. Independent Chandrama Devi was declared elected from there.

But in Rae Bareli, constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the party fared well by winning five out of seven nagar panchayats, while SP and Indepdendent won one each.

A eunuch Rekha of Lok Dal won election for chairperson of Ahroura nagar palika parishad in Mirzapur district.

Of the total seven nagar panchayats in Lucknow district, two each were won by the BJP, SP and BS4, while BSP supported Indpendent cornered one seat.

Meanwhile, State Election Commission (SEC) officials said the counting of votes for the crucial mayoral polls started late this evening and the results are expected by tomorrow morning.

The three phase election -- on October 28, 31 and November 3 -- were marred by allegations of large scale rigging and sporadic violence, in which at least two persons died and over 100 injured.

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