PARADIP: The saffron party managed to win two ZP seats in Kujang block, the forte held by Excise Minister Damodar Rout. The BJP and the BJD captured two seats each.
The BJP has opened its account for the first time in Jagatsinghpur district by winning the two ZP seats from the block, the home of local MLA Rout.
Kujang block has four ZP zones where BJP captured two seats and BJD retained two. Unofficial sources said BJP candidates Sushree Priyadarshini and Rashmi Ranjan Chaudhry won from Zone 3 and 4 respectively. Similarly, BJD candidates Namita Parida and Manini Behera have won from Zone 1 and Zone 2 respectively. In Tirtol block, out of four zones, the BJD candidates won three seats while one went to the Congress. Congress candidate Ajaya Sahu defeated his BJD rival. The BJP leader Pratap Mishra said his party has started its winning spree from Rout’s stronghold.
On the other hand, block unit BJD president Chitta Mishra alleged that the BJP has spent `50 to `60 lakh for winning two ZP seats.
Meanwhile, Election campaigning for fourth phase panchayat election ended in the district on Friday. Fourth phase election will be held on February 19 in Biridi and Raghunathpur blocks. In Biridi block, panchayat poll will be held in 21 panchayats, including two Zilla Parishad zones. Out of 339 booths, 50 have been declared sensitive and 65,548 voters will cast vote. In Raghunathpur block, there are 19 panchayats, including two zones. Out of 397 booths, 44 are sensitive while 65,053 people will cast vote.