UP civic poll: Independents, SP surge ahead

Lucknow, Nov 6 (UNI) Independents along with the ruling Samajwadi Party candidates were today cruising ahead of the BJP and Congress in the Uttar Pradesh urban local bodies poll results declared so far.

The elections are considered crucial as political parties see them as a warm-up exercise ahead of the assembly election due early next year.

Several Independents were supported by the BSP, which did not contest the polls.

Counting of votes of the mayoral election in all 12 nagar nigams were underway at a slow pace and the trends would be available late in the night.

Of the results of 36 nagar palika parishads announced so far, 15 were won by the SP, while BJP won 5 seats and the Independents got elected in 13 parishads. The candidates of other smaller parties also managed seats.

However, the Congress is yet to open its account in the nagar palika parishad.

Out of a total of 171 nagar panchayat election results announced so far, the highest 62 were cornered by Independents, followed by SP 47, BJP 24 and Congress 8. Rest 10 seats were won by smaller parties like BS-4, RLD and Apna Dal.

State Election Commission (SEC) officials said the counting of votes for the crucial mayoral polls started late this evening and the results were 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 were injured.

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