SP sweeps legislative council elections

LUCKNOW: In a major boost to the ruling Samajwadi Party, its candidates bagged 23 of the 28 legislative council (local bodies) seats, the results of which were declared on Sunday. The SP had earlier bagged eight council seats unopposed.

While the BJP failed to open its account, the BSP captured two seats, Congress one and independent candidates two seats.

As the council election was considered the semi-final before the 2017 assembly polls, the results shocked the BJP that had planned to give a thrust to its assembly election campaign to snatch seats from SP and BSP.

Those elected included a mafioso, son of a minister, wife of a muscleman and scion of a royal family. With Sunday’s results the strength of the SP in Upper House increased to 58. The BSP has 16 members, Congress 2, teachers group 5, RLD 1 and Independent candidates 6. The five seats of nominated candidates from the fields of literature, art, science and social service are lying vacant. In Varanasi, the SP received a setback as mafioso Brijesh

WHILE SP WON 23 OF THE 28 SEATS, BSP CAPTURED TWO, CONG ONE AND INDEPENDENT TWO. BJP FAILED TO OPEN ACCOUNT

Singh (independent), lodged in Saharanpur jail, defeated SP candidate Meena Singh. Dinesh Pratap Singh managed to save the Congress fort in Rae Bareli.

BSP candidate Mahmood Ali secured victory on the sensitive Muzaffarnagar- Saharanpur seat.

Another candidate named Brijesh Singh of the BSP defeated the SP candidate on the Jaunpur seat. Independent candidate Vishal Singh Chanchal surprised pollsters by bagging the prestigious Ghazipur seat.

SP candidates who secured victory include Parvez Ali on Moradabad-Bijnore seat, Ghanshyam Singh from Rampur-Bareilly, Banwari Singh Yadav from Badaun, Amit Yadav from Pilibhit-Shahjahanpur, Misbahuddin from Hardoi, Shashank Yadav on Kheri, Shailendra Pratap Singh on Sultanpur, Akshay Pratap Singh from Pratapgarh.