By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : The Bharatiya Janata Party has performed poorly in the civic elections held Tuesday in riot-hit Kandhamal and state capital Bhubaneswar, according to the results announced Wednesday.
The elections were held for all the 60 wards of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the state capital, 13 wards of the Phulbani Municipality and 13 wards of the G. Udaygiri Notified Area Council – both in Kandhamal district.
In the BMC election, the ruling Janata Dal has got a majority by bagging 40 seats. The BJP fared poorly, securing only nine seats. Independents have won six seats, the Congress four and Samrudha Odisha has won in one ward, officials said.
In Phulbani Municipality, the BJP has bagged only two wards whereas the BJD has 4, the Congress 5, and Independents 2. In G.Udayagiri, the BJP has only bagged one ward whereas the congress has won in 6, the BJD 4, and Independents in 2.
The Biju Janata Dal and its alliance partner BJP fielded candidates in all wards.
Senior leaders of both parties campaigned vigorously in the election, describing it as a friendly fight between them.
Elections to 91 other urban local bodies in the state were held Sep 19. The polls were not held in Bhubaneswar due to some administrative trouble.
The polls were also postponed in the district of Kandhamal after Hindus attacked Christians, blaming them for the murder of a Hindu leader and four of his aides Aug 23.
Thousands of Christians were forced to flee after their houses were attacked by rampaging Hindu mobs in Kandhamal. Over 10,000 people were still living in government-run relief camps in the district.