SAD-BJP alliance sweeps civic polls in Punjab; Badal says verdict is 'pro-people'

Chandigarh, Feb 26: SAD-BJP alliance on Wednesday swept the civic polls in Punjab as it won 1,161 seats out of results declared in 2,037 wards, with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal describing the verdict as mandate in favour of "pro-people" and "development oriented policies" of the state government.

Out of 2,037 wards in 122 municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats, SAD wrested control on 813 wards while its ally BJP won 348 wards, as per election results declared late evening.

The Congress which was looking to strengthen its position in these elections won 253 wards while Independents were victorious on 624 seats, an official of Punjab Election Commission said.

There was a clean sweep for SAD in Amritsar, Moga, Tarn Taran and Mohali while Congress was able to gain majority in Nurmahal, Khanna, Doraha, Patran, Malerkotla, Abohar, Gidderbaha and Nawanshahar towns. BJP led in the wards of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Mukerian, Dasuya, Nangal, Tanda, Rajpura, Deenanagar and Sujanpur. BSP won three seats each in Nakodar, Nurmahal and Bhai Roopa while PPP won one seat in Phillaur and two in Gobindgarh, as per the results.

Interestingly, in Tarn Taran where SAD and BJP were in direct fight, Akalis won on 16 wards while BJP managed to win 7 seats out of 23 wards. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal hailed the victory of Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance in the elections of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats in the state.

Describing it as a mandate in favour of pro-people and development-oriented policies of SAD-BJP government, the Chief Minister in a statement said that the victory of the alliance has once again demonstrated people's full faith and confidence in the policies and programmes of the alliance government. He said that poll results were a "triumph of clean, transparent and good governance of alliance over the "malicious propaganda" based on divisive politics and dirty tactics applied by the Congress.

Reacting to the poll results, Punjab BJP President Kamal Sharma termed the victory of the SAD-BJP combine as victory of the democracy and development agenda pursued by the ruling alliance. Earlier, polling to 122 municipal councils and nagar panchayats today passed off peacefully barring stray incidents at some booths of Samana and Ferozepur. Despite inclement weather conditions, the total polling in the civic polls was registered at 78.60%, said SS Brar, State Election Commissioner. Maximum polling was witnessed in Bathinda (87.11%), Barnala (82%), Fatehgarh Sahib (80.55%), Moga (85.18%), Mansa (85.60%) and Sangrur (82.71%).

PTI