BJP candidate Vinod Srivastava won the mayoral post in the Adityapur Municipal Corporation election, whose results were declared on Friday. As the announcements were made, party workers burst into celebration. He defeated his nearest contestant Yogendra Sharma alias Munna Sharma of the Congress by a margin of 7,950 votes.
The deputy mayor post was also won by the BJP candidate, Amit Singh, who defeated his nearest contestant Manoj Mahto of JMM with a margin of 10,663 votes.
Srivastava said: "I would like to thank my supporters. Winning the top post in the civic poll is matter of pride. I thank Narendra Modi whose vision has helped party spread its reach. Moreover, Modi jee has become a synonym of development and people voted me to the top post in the civic polls. I will fulfill my duty with honesty".
Sixty two year old Srivastava (62) said that people have given him responsibility to serve as mayor of the Adityapur municipal corporation and he will prove his capability by serving the residents of Adityapur and Gamharia.
Srivastava had maintained a low profile in carrying out the campaign and had not even carried out a door-to-door campaign like Munna Sharma.
The results of the Adityapur municipal corporation polls was interesting from very beginning as the counting began at Kashinath Sahu Memorial College in Seraikela in adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district from 8.30 am instead of the scheduled 8 am.
On the other hand, Congress candidate Munna Sharma left the counting venue after the declaration of the sixth round of counting of polls. “I accept the mandate of the people. Our party is not as much strong hold at Adityapur. But still I am glad that over 11,000 people have voted in my favour," said Sharma.
In the first of the total eight rounds of counting, AJSU Party's mayoral candidate Sachin was ahead of the BJP by about 200 votes. In the second round BJP came first bringing JMM candidate Ranjit Pradhan as his nearest contestant.
From second round till sixth round the JMM candidate maintained its second position with Srivastava leading the race. But from the seventh round, Munna Sharma left behind JMM and captured the second position. But by that time Srivastava had already made a lead of over 6,000 votes over his nearest rival.
There were about 1.9 lakh voters. Polling per cent was 61.8. The fight for the post of mayor in Adityapur Municipal Corporation was interesting as none of 14 who had filed nominations did not withdraw. With no one withdraw ing nomination, the municipal corporation elections in Adityapur in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district had become interesting as the BJP's official candidate Vinod Srivastava faced challenge from two of the candidates having saffron background were also in the fray.