As expected, the BJD registered thumping victories in the elections for the Baliguda and Champua Notified Area Councils (NAC) winning nine wards each in the two newly-created NACs on Thursday.
In Baliguda of Kandhamal district, the State’s ruling party grabbed nine out of the 13 wards while the Congress and the BJP managed to win three and one seat, respectively.
In Champua of Keonjhar district, the BJD also won in nine out of the 13 wards while Independent candidates got four seats. The BJP and the Congress failed to open their accounts here.
Slamming the BJD for “adopting unfair practices” in the polls, Congress Chief Whip in the Assembly Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “We had tried our best but could not succeed. No political party can sustain in the political atmosphere created by the BJD.”.
BJD spokesperson and MlA Anant Das said, “The voters of both the NACs have given fitting reply to the Congress. I am sure that the people of Odisha will always be with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.”
BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma, however, stated that his party has conceded the defeat.
The polling had been held on Tuesday. The Congress, the BJD and the BJP had fielded candidates for all wards in Baliguda. The BJD and the BJP had also put up candidates in all wards in Champua while the Congress had fielded eight.