BJP DOMINATES ZILA PARISHAD POLLS IN HP, CONG PUTS UP A TOUGH FIGHT

DHARAMSHALA: The BJP dominated the zila parishad elections in Himachal Pradesh even as the Congress gave the ruling party a tough fight.

State BJP chief Suresh Kashyap has claimed victory of its authorised or affiliated candidates in 156 out of 239 wards. Elections to PRIs are not held on party symbols. However, parties back their candidates.

However, Himachal Congress chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore termed the BJP’s claims false and baseless. He said CM Jai Ram Thakur and state BJP chief could not ensure victory of party candidates on their home turf.

He claimed that majority of Congress candidates have won the election. As per the trends so far, the BJP has won 104 seats and the Congress 67. Independents and rebel candidates have won 48 seats, while CPIM secured seven.

Both the BJP and the Congress claimed victory in the politically significant Kangra district. Fiftytwo out of 54 wards, results for which have been declared, the BJP claimed to have won 25 and its affiliated members winning six wards as Independents. The Congress claimed victory in 18 wards and support of Independents who it said were its members. Results of two wards are yet to be declared. However, Independents hold the key to the post of zila parishad chairman and vice-chairman as both the parties have fallen short of majority.

Top guns suffer setbacks

Meanwhile, top guns of the BJP and the Congress, including CM Jai Ram Thakur, state BJP chief Suresh Kashyap and leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, have suffered a setback on their home turfs. In CM’s home constituency Seraj, the BJP could win only two out of four seats. One seat each was won by a CPIM nominee and an Independent.

On BJP president Kashyap’s home turf, the party could lost both zila parishad seats.