BJP declares victory against Cong but Independents rule the roost

Dehra Dun, Sep 16 (UNI) The ruling BJP has consolidated its position in the three-tier Uttarakhand Panchayat elections defeating arch rival Congress by a narrow margin.

A total of 2449 candidates had contested for 371 District Panchayat seats, 7239 Gram Panchayat Pradhan seats and 3075 Area Panchayat seats in the polls held in three phases in the state.

Forming a sizeable chunk of all nominees for the polls held in 12 districts of the state, barring Hardwar, were women after the state government reserved 50 per cent seats for them.

In results declared for 371 District Panchayat member seats, the BJP won 133 seats, Congress won 92 seats while the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), Samajwadi Party and Communist Party of India won 22 seats. Independent candidates fared better wresting a total of 123 seats.

Out of the total 33 District Panchayat member seats in Dehra Dun, the BJP won 14 seats, Independents 12, Congress five and the CPI(M) two seats.

In Tehri, the BJP won 18 of the total 45 seats while Congress won 13, Independents 11 and UKD 3 seats.

In Almora, the BJP won 18 of the total 48 seats while Congress won 15, Independents 13 and UKD two seats.

Of the total 34 District Panchayat seats in Pithoragarh, the BJP won 17 seats, Congress nine seats and Independents eight seats.

In Pauri, the BJP won 18 of the total 45 seats, Congress 13, Independents 11, and UKD three seats.

In Uddhamsinghnagar, Independents won with 12 seats, BJP eight seats, Congress seven seats while the SP had to make hay with five seats.

Independents had won 12 of the 27 seats in Chamoli followed by Congress with nine seats, BJP five, and CPI and UKD one seat each.

In Rudprayag, the BJP and Congress tied with six seats each while Independents won five seats and UKD two seats.

The trends have consolidated the position of the Independent and rebel candidates who were ruling the roost in most wards and it remained to be seen how the BJP and the Congress could rope them in their interest.

UNI PB GL HS1612