Congress on Wednesday doubled its tally in the Muncipal and Nagar Panchayat elections held in 15 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Congress won 15 seats—increasing its count from seven during the last poll. While BJP’s number reduced from 28 to 25, three seats went to independents.
The election to 43 local bodies, including 17 municipalities and 26 Nagar Parishads, were touted as semi-final to assembly polls scheduled for next year.
The elections were important for ruling BJP as they were held in the backdrop of violent farmers protest across the state two months ago. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan left no stone unturned to make sure that BJP wins these polls which were deemed to be a litmus test of his popularity. Chouhan had personally campaigned at 27 poll-bound places. Political observers had predicting a rout for BJP due to negative sentiments created post the farmer agitation. By retaining most of the seats Chouhan proved that his popularity is not on decline. Speaking on the victory at party headquarters, he said: “The results of the elections have proved that we are on the right path and people of Madhya Pradesh have reposed faith in the policies of BJP and state government’’.
There are 98 Muncipalities, 264 Nagar Panchayats, 313 Janpad Panchayats, 22825 villager Panchayats and 16 Muncipal Corporations in Madhya Pradesh. Polls to majority of the civic bodies were conducted in 2014. Polls in these 37 civic bodies in 15 districts, mostly tribal-dominated, were scheduled for this year. Elections in Barwani and Dhar districts were postponed due to displacement of over 15,000 families falling under submergence of Sardar Sarovar Dam waters.
Congress fared well in the pockets controlled by its state President Arun Yadav and senior leader Kamalnath. Yadav expressed satisfaction over the results. He said: “We were not only fighting BJP but their immense resources and administration controlled by them.”
Amit Shah will arrive in Bhopal tomorrow on a three-day visit to take a review of party organisation and functioning of the state government.
