Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won 17 urban local bodies (UlBs) in the elections of chairpersons for 20 UlBs in western Odisha on Wednesday. The Congress, the BJP and an Independent managed to win one chairperson post each at Barpali NAC (Bargarh district), Patnagarh NAC (Balangir) and Khariar NAC (Nuapada), respectively.
As many as five BJD candidates got elected unopposed as chairpersons. They were Mamata Mishra in Binka NAC, Simantini Nayak in Sonepur Municipality, Monika Agarwal in Tarabha NAC, Rebati Balua in Kuchinda NAC and Bidyutlata Bag in Kantabanji NAC. Most importantly, 15 of the 20 posts have been grabbed by women candidates, said the final results announced by the State Election Commission (SEC). Notably, BJD had showed its strength in the region by securing majority in as many as 15 of the 20 civic bodies when the results of the November 22 polls were declared the next day.