JAIPUR: The BJP, which had failed to open its account in 2012 panchayat elections, bagged six seats this time. While the BJD’s share of seats came down and the Congress failed to open account.
Besides, the fact that there was a sharp rise in per cent of votes in BJP’s favour points at deep inroads made by the saffron party into rural vote bank, much to the headache of the rival parties.
According to the official results announced on Saturday, the BJD stood first with 33 ZP seats out of total 39 compared to 35 seats in 2012 and BJP came second position with six seats.
The vote share of BJD is 50 per cent (pc) followed by BJP 31 pc and Congress 17 pc. In 2012 panchayat election, the vote share of BJD was 56 pc, followed by Congress with 23 pc and BJP 15 pc. The vote share of saffron party doubled, while the BJD and Congress lost six pc of their vote share.
The BJP candidates got three ZP seats in Bari Assembly constituency, represented by BJD MLA Debasish Nayak, two seats in Binjharpur, represented by the ruling party MLA Pramila Malik and one seat in Dharmasala Assembly segment, represented by BJD legislator Pranab Balabantray.
However, the ruling party retained all 11 ZP seats in Barachana and Sukinda Assembly segments, represented by Amar Prasad Satpathy and Pritiranjan Ghadei respectively.
Contacted, BJD district president Naresh Chandra Mohanty attributed the loss of seats and voting share to dissident candidates. He added that there were some local issues which went against the party nominees.
BJP leader Goutam Ray said the sharp rise in the voting share and winning of six ZP seats in the district is the reflection of good work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On the other hand, Jajpur District Congress Committee president, Manoj Kumar Rout blamed lack of funds and weak organisational structure behind the decimation of the Congress party in the district. Congress was lagging behind in poll preparedness, he said.