SAD-BJP capture Ludhiana, Jalandhar MCs

Chandigarh, Aug 8 (UNI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance captured power in the Ludhiana and Jalandhar Municipal Corporations (MCs) and was heading for victory in the prestigious Amritsar and Patiala MCs also.

An estimated 65 percent of the 25 lakh electorate had cast their votes in the four cities today amid allegations by the Congress and the Left parties of booth capturing and intimidation of voters by the alliance partners. The Congress 'boycotted' the Patiala MC polls midway, at around noon charging the SAD-BJP of threatening candidates and polling agents of the Congress.

A report from Ludhiana said that the SAD-BJP recaptured power after a gap of five years in the 75-member Corporation in Punjab.

With just one result outstanding the ruling alliance had won 41 seats, with the SAD winning in 24 wards and BJP in 17.

The Congress showing was below expections with the party bagging just 15 seats while its ally, the CPI secured one seat. As many as 15 independents, a majority of them SAD rebels emerged victorious. The BSP was victorious in two wards.

The SAD-BJP alliance also wrested the Jalandhar MC from the Congress, winning 31 seats in the 60-member house. The Congress won in 24 wards while three went to independents. Two results are still to come in.

In Patiala, the home town of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the SAD-BJP alliance had won 21 of the 25 seats declared so far. The Congress which had announced the 'withdrawl' of its candidates at 1200 hours, could win just one ward while three wards were captured by independents in the 50-members house.

In the holy city of Amritsar, the SAD-BJP alliance was heading for victory and had secured 21 seats in the 65-member house so far.

The BJP bagged 13 of these wards while its ally, the SAD secured eight.

Congress candidates were victorious on 14 seats, with its senior Deputy Mayor O P Gabbar being the most prominent loser. Independents bagged six seats while one went to the CPI.

UNI