Congress sweeps civic body bypolls in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: In a major setback to  the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Opposition Congress on Tuesday won nine out 14 wards in different civic bodies in 14 districts, by-elections for which were held last week.

While four wards in these civic bodies went to BJP, the rest ward in another civic body was bagged by an independent candidate.

Significantly, the Opposition party wrested three wards from BJP in Chhindwara municipality, the home town of MP Congress chief Kamal Nath, in the by-elections.

By-polls to 14 wards of different civic and panchayat bodies in 14 districts in the state were held on August 3 in which 66.28 per cent of voters exercised their franchise.

Hailing the by-election results, Mr Nath said it was indicator of change of government in MP in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, slated for November-December this year.

Ruling BJP here however said results of by-election to wards of civic bodies were no indicator of mood of people of the state.

“It is foolish to say that the results of by elections to half a dozen wards of civic bodies will impact Assembly elections,” a BJP spokesperson said.

While snatching three wards in Chhindwara municipality from BJP, Congress won six wards each in civic bodies in districts of Burhanpur, Neemuch, Gwalior, Singrauli, Bhopal, Satna and Guna.

BJP won one ward each in the civic bodies in the districts of Damoh, Mandsaur, Datia and Annupur, while an independent candidate won in a war in the civic body in Bhind district.

Earlier in January, Congress had secured presidential posts of nine out of total 19 civic bodies those had gone to the polls.

BJP had also won presidential posts of nine civic bodies. The remaining one was bagged by an independent candidate.