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Punjab local body polls: Congress wins big, mayoral post in Bathinda; setback for BJP amid farmers' protest

The Congress bagged Moga, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Abohar, and Bathinda municipal corporations while it led in Pathankot and Batala.
 

Punjab local body polls: Congress wins big, mayoral post in Bathinda; setback for BJP amid farmers' protest-dnm
Author
Chandigarh, First Published Feb 17, 2021, 1:24 PM IST

Chandigarh: The Congress party has won five of the seven municipal corporations in Punjab and was leading in three as counting of votes polled in the state local body elections proceeded today.

The party bagged Moga, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Abohar, and Bathinda municipal corporations while it led in Pathankot and Batala.

The emerging scenario may be perceived as a setback for the BJP since it was seen as an urban voter base party and had been in alliance with the SAD until outraged farmers of the states changed the dynamics over the past few months.

The polls are being seen as an acid test for all the four main political parties, namely, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Punjab Municipal Corporation elections witnessed more than 70% voting to elect over 100 civic body representatives in the state. As many as 9,222 candidates are in the fray to be elected into 2,302 wards in the eight municipal corporations and 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

The State Election Commission has ordered that the counting of votes for the Municipal Corporation in Mohali would take place on February 18 after repolling in two booths.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties have accused the ruling Congress of "capturing booths" and "indulging in violence", according to a PTI report.

The elections were held amid thousands of farmers from the state, along with many of those from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, camping around Delhi since November in protest against the central laws. Over 150 protesters have died till now due to various reasons, including harsh weather and by suicide.

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