Poll setback for BJP on CM’s home turf Mandi

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, January 20

The BJP is facing a tough competition from the Congress to grab the top posts in the civic bodies’ elections in Mandi district the CM’s home turf. Of the six, the BJP got top posts of president and vice-president in three civic bodies.

It is a blow to the BJP in the district, which defeated the Congress in the last Assembly elections. The Congress could not secure even a single seat out of the 10.

Cong gains ground

• The BJP got the posts of president and vice-president in Sundernagar, Nerchowk and Sarkaghat municipal councils
• The Congress won Jogindernagar MC and Rewalsar Nagar Panchayat
• At Karsog Nagar Panchayat, BJP dissidents hold the top posts
• In the last Assembly elections, the Congress could not secure even a one seat in the district

In the civic bodies’ elections, the BJP got the posts of president and vice-president in municipal councils of Sundernagar, Nerchowk and Sarkaghat. The Congress won the Jogindernagar MC and Rewalsar Nagar Panchayat. At the Karsog Nagar Panchayat, BJP dissidents held the top posts.

In the Sundernagar MC, BJP-supported Jitender Sharma was elected the president, while Raksha Dhiman vice-president. In the Nerchowk MC, BJP-supported Shalini Rana was elected the president, while Param Dev vice-president. In the Sarkaghat MC, BJP-supported Anup Kumari was the president, while Dhyan Singh Chauhan was vice-president.

In Rewalsar Nagar Panchayat, Congress-supported Rita Devi was elected the president, while Kashmir Singh Yadav, an Independent was elected the vice-president. In the Jogindernagar MC, Congress-supported Mamta Kumari was the president, while Ajay Dharwal vice-president.

In Karsog, BJP dissident Seema Gupta was elected the MC president, while Bansi Lal as vice-president. They both have been expelled from the party by the leadership.

The Congress leadership in Mandi is happy after gaining ground in the civic bodies’ elections. They are expecting good results for party-supported candidates in the Zila Parishad elections, too.