GUWAHATI:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the municipal elections by capturing 807 of total 977 wards, on March 9. Congress could triumph in only 71 wards, while pp went to others.
Taking to a microblogging site, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “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 (sic).”
Assam had recorded 71 per cent voting in the civic body polls that was held on March 6. Elections were held for 80 municipal boards comprising 977 wards across Assam. Of the 977 wards, results of 57 wards were already declared uncontested and election was held for 920 wards.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his tweet, reiterated how all sections of people in Assam have unflinching trust in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayaas, adding that the victory is humbling.
Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) set a new beginning in Assam with two seats in the civic body elections. Dhiraj Kumar Singh won from ward number 11 in Tinsukia and Udita Das won from ward number 14 in Lakhimpur town.
Singh won by a margin of 183 votes by defeating his nearest rival Hemant Sharma, former vice-chairperson of Tinsukia Municipal Board. Sharma has been elected to the board from this constituency for four consecutive terms.
Taking to Twitter, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated the winners, adding its “the beginning of honest and clean politics in Assam too”.
Interestingly, electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in these elections for the first time.