BJP and its ally AGP swept the Assam civic elections on Wednesday, winning 77 of 80 municipal boards. BJP won 75 and AGP took two, while Congress managed a single win and Independents got the majority in two municipal boards in the state’s first local body elections in which EVMs were used.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said BJP won 742 of the 977 wards across 80 boards, while AGP took 65. Congress won in 71 wards, others triumphed in 99. Candidates won uncontested in 57 wards.
Congress didn’t get majority in any, but the state PCC leadership said the party would take support of two Independents to govern Narayanpur municipal board in Lakhimpur district.
Many AGP nominees, too, faced defeat at the hands of BJP in AGP bastions in upper and lower Assam districts, where a poll alliance could not be stitched between the two state-level allies. BJP also did well in districts having a sizeable population of religious minority voters.
PM Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, home minister Amit Shah and CM Sarma congratulated the people for the landslide victory. “Gratitude to the people of Assam for blessing BJP and our allies in the recently concluded municipal elections. This shows their faith in our Party’s development agenda. I applaud our hardworking Karyakartas for their efforts and service among people,” Modi tweeted.
Sarma said the victory reflects people’s trust in Modi’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayaas.
AAP made history by registering its first victory in Assam’s civic elections—Dhiraj Singh won from ward 11 in Tinsukia. The party took another ward as well.
Barring Hailakandi, six other municipal boards across Barak valley went to BJP. Of 16 wards in Hailakandi, Independents won in 10 and BJP six.