The BJP-led ruling alliance in Assam swept the municipal elections on Wednesday by winning 807 of the 977 wards and leaving principal Opposition Congress way behind with only 71 seats.
The results once again reflect the massive growth of the BJP and the decline of the Congress in the state and the Northeast since 2014.
The victory was “more” special for the BJP because even wards with significant Muslim population voted for the saffron party, prompting senior Congress leader Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee to say “this needs to be closely looked into” while accepting the verdict.
Though the final results are yet to be declared by the State Election Commission, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the BJP had won 742 wards while its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won 65. The Congress won 71 wards and others, including Independents, 99, he said.
BJP leaders said they had the numbers to smoothly form 77 of the 80 municipal boards, which went to the polls. Congress leaders said they could form only one municipal board. The Independents can form two boards.
The BJP had contested 825 wards, AGP 253, Congress 706 and others, including Independents, 758 wards.
For the first time, EVMs were used in the urban body polls in the state. No untoward incident was reported on polling day and there was no demand for repoll anywhere in the state.
“I congratulate all @BJP4Assamkaryakartas & leaders who worked tirelessly spreading the development ideals of Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodiji. This massive mandate for growth & development will inspire us to pursue our agenda of progress with renewed vigour. @JPNadda,” Sarma tweeted.
The BJP had also swept the last urban body polls held in 2015, winning 38 of the 74 municipal boards and town committees. The Congress could manage only 17, a steep fall from the 71 urban bodies it had won in 2012. Elections were held to 746 wards in 2015.
Congress’s Bhattacharjee said there was nothing to be disappointed about the result because people usually went with the ruling party in Dispur or in Delhi but the party would now focus on rebuilding itself keeping in mind future challenges.
