Maintaining its winning spree in the Zilla Parishad (ZP) zones in the district, the BJP grabbed seven seats out of the nine, for which polling was held on Sunday.
Significantly, it has registered a clean sweep in Remuna by winning all the four seats. In Nilgiri block also, the party bagged all the three seats.
However, it failed in Oupada block as both the ZP seats went in favour of the ruling BJD.
While Remuna constituency is represented by the lone BJP MlA of the district, Gobinda Das, Nilgiri is the home turf of the former MlA and senior party leader Pratap Sarangi.
The BJD’s defeat in all the three seats of Niligiri is a severe jolt to the ruling party. Notably, the incumbent MlA Sukanta Nayak is of the BJD.With the win in seven more seats, the BJP which failed to open its account even after first two phases has taken its total tally to 12.
Notably, the BJP, in the third phase had won five seats out of seven under Sadar and Bahanaga block. The magic number to grab the coveted ZP president post is 23 out of the total 45 ZP seats in the district. Both the BJD and BJP aspire to achieve the number and are fighting with their backs to the wall. While the BJD has 22 seats in its kitty, the BJP has won 12 seats till now.
While the polling in the last phase would be held on Tuesday for Simulia, Soro and Khaira blocks, the contest would be keen between these two parties for 10 seats including three each in Soro and Simulia and four in Khaira block respectively.
The Congress, which has so far got only one seat, is trying hard to increase its tally as the party has still has a strong base in Soro and Simulia.