Flexing their muscles ahead of the lok Sabha elections, both BJP and Congress on Wednesday claimed victory in the panchayat polls held in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
In an ironic twist, both the political parties are staking out claims on winning candidates, saying that the maximum numbers are on their side.
A total of 12 sarpanches and 132 panches were elected for 13 villages during elections. Though the elections are not contested on party symbols, the BJP and Congress claimed to have wrested maximum number of seats. During the panchayat polls in 2008, the tally of Congress supporters was nine while the BJP had three elected Sarpanches.
BJP now seemed happy wresting five seats which is better than its previous tally of three. On the other hand, Congress staked claims on seven seats saying they were won by its candidates.
Given the anti-Congress wave across the country and name of local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal embroiled in Railway Board Bribery Scam, the performance of Congress is being seen as “good”. But the rural areas of the city have been the traditional stronghold of the party. BJP, on the other side, came up trumps, making inroads in the stronghold of the Congress.
Both the parties fought the elections on local and national issues. While BJP raised the ‘Railgate’ issue, the Congress was seen endorsing its good work and party’s policies in the city and across country. Talking to The Pioneer, BB Behl, Chandigarh Congress president said, “The party has performed well in the polls. The city populace is supporting the Congress and we are sure to record another victory from the city in lok Sabha polls 2014.
“Seven-Congress backed candidates were elected Sarpances. This confirms that the party has a stronghold in the rural areas of the city,” he added. Contradicting Congress’ claims, Chandigarh BJP President Sanjay Tandon said the residents in rural areas have given their verdict in favor of the BJP. Five BJP candidates backed by the party won Sarpanch polls.
“After the municipal corporation polls in Chandigarh, the panchayat polls have also corroborated that the people are in favor of BJP and the party will register a sweeping victory in lok Sabha polls scheduled next year, he added.
In the civic elections held in the year 2011, the BJP-SAD combine had turned the tables by winning 12 seats while Congress had won 11 seats out of 26 wards in the city. A large number of Congress’ heavyweight had lost in the MCC polls in 2011. In the year 2006, 12 councillors of the Congress, two from Akali Dal, seven from BJP, five from BSP were elected.
Congress is believed to have a stronghold in the rural areas of the city, which has a large number of voters. Voters in rural areas of Chandigarh always play a vital role in deciding the fate of candidates in the fray for city parliamentary constituency.