BJP wrests control of Shimla MC
SHIMLA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday scripted history for the first time in three decades by winning the maximum seats in a 34-member House of the Shimla municipal corporation.
The saffron party-supported candidates won 17 seats, one short of simple majority. However, an independent announced his support to the BJP, taking its tally to 18. Its arch-rival, the Congress, which ruled the civic body for 26 years till the last elections in May 2012, saw its 12 candidates getting elected.
The results came as a major jolt to the Congress as the election was seen as a precursor to the assembly polls due by the end of this year. While three independents announced their support to the Congress, the fourth one — a BJP rebel — extended support to the saffron party.
One CPI-M candidate also emerged victorious. The winners will take oath on Monday and the mayor and the deputy mayor will also be elected the same day. The counting began at 9 am and anxious workers from main parties gathered outside the deputy commissioner’s office even as the elections were not held on party symbols this time. There were 126 candidates in the fray and 57.8% votes polled in the election. Political parties left no stone unturned to ensure victory of their candidates with big guns CM Virbhadra Singh, Union minister JP Nadda, former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal campaigning for them.
BJP has performed remarkably well in the elections despite the Congress misusing the official machinery to mount pressure on voters, especially employees PREM KUMAR DHUMAL, former CM The outcome won’t have any impact on assembly polls as the issues were local. The BJP was contesting elections on PM Narendera Modi’s achievements. VIRBHADRA SINGH, CM