Coming closer to its defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls, the Congress in Haryana suffered another setback when party-backed independents suffered defeat in the elections to 46 urban local bodies for which the counting of votes took place on Wednesday.
Though the Congress did not contest the election on its symbol, it extended support to independent candidates to take on the ruling JJP-BJP alliance.
Party-backed candidates can win the post of president in Assandh, Nising, Narayangarh, Ratia, Sirsa and Bawal. In the areas where the local body elections were held, the Congress has 15 MLAs and out of them it could win only two municipal committees.
The BJP-JJP alliance captured 25 of the 46 municipalities.
The Congress did not get much success even in its strongholds Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonipat. Jhajjar, the stronghold of Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was defeated by the candidate of the ruling party. The elections were held when the state unit was led by Hooda loyalist Uday Bhan. Bhan Hadi
Recently he has replaced his rival Kumari Selja.
The BJP won the president’s post in both the Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh regions, which fall under the representation of Congress MLAs. BJP also won in Ganaur and Kundli Municipal Committees and Gohana Municipal Council. Gohana is represented by Congress MLAs.
In Rohtak, an independent won the Meham Municipal Committee.
The BJP also won in the Ferozepur Jhirka and Punhana Municipal Committees, and in the Nuh Municipal Council, the JJP won. The Congress has three sitting MLAs in these areas.
Despite the defeat, the Congress leaders tried to take a tough stand. “Candidates did not fight on the party symbol. Moreover, the BJP has got a little over 25 per cent votes in urban areas, indicating a gradual decline in its voter base,” claimed a party leader.
In Narnaul, candidate supported by Congress MLA Kiran Choudhary Kamlesh Saini won, while in Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani his supported candidates lost. They had lodged their protest when the Congress decided not to contest the election on the party’s symbol.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a new entrant in Haryana politics, managed to win just one seat by contesting 45 seats.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Congratulating the ruling BJP-Jannayak Janata Party alliance for its good performance in the municipal elections and said that the people of Haryana have reposed full faith in the state government that it is developing the state.
Congratulating the BJP candidates who won the election, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar claimed that the victory reflects people’s faith in the party.
(with PTI inputs)
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