In a major setback for the ruling BJP party in Madhya Pradesh, the main Opposition Congress managed to win five out of eight urban bodies.
Congress continued its winning streak that started by registering victory in the Ratlam Jhabua parliamentary by-election in Madhya Pradesh last month and registered victory in Shajapur Municipality and Dhamnod, Orcha, Bhedaghat and Majholi Municipal councils the result of which were declared on Saturday. The BJP emerged victorious in Mandsaur and Sehore Municipality and Shahgunj Municipal Council.
The BJP was holding seven of these eight civic bodies earlier. Though the BJP lost on five local bodies, it manage to register victory in the home district of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan by winning both Sehore Municipality and Shahgunj Municipal Council besides it manage to retain the Mandsaur Municipal Council.
The municipal election was held on last Tuesday (December 22) and the BJP won only three seats including Mandsaur, Sehore and Shahganj. However, in last election, the ruling party had won seven out of eight seats.
The five urban bodies where Congress emerged as winner are: Shajapur Municipal Council and city councils of Majholi, Bhedaghat, Dhamnod and Orcha.
Municipalities
In Shajapur Congress’s Shital Bhatt defeated BJP’s Sangita Bhandawat by 2822 votes, in Sehore BJPs Amita Jaspal Arora defeated Congress’ by 10278 votes and in Mandsaur BJP’s Prahlad Bandhwar defeated Congress’ Somil Nahata by 6826 votes.
Municipal Councils
In Shahgunj BJP’s Bhayyalal Gaur defeated Congress candidate by 1870 votes, in Dhamnod Congress candidate Vishnu Chouhan defeated BJP candidate by 565 votes, in Bhedaghat Congress candidate Sheela Jain defeated BJP candidate 593 votes.
In Orchha Congress candidate Rajkumari Yadav defeated BJP candidate by 132 votes and in Majholi Congress candidate Ruby Singh defeated BJP candidate by 415 votes. During these local bodies elections there were 39 candidates in fray for the posts of chairman.