WINS ALL BUT TWO SEATS
POST NEWS NETWORK
Bhubaneswar, May 6: In a fresh shock to the Opposition Congress and BJP, the ruling Biju Janata Dal registered a spectacular sweep in the Ranpur NAC elections, winning all but two seats Wednesday.
Of the total 15 wards, the BJD captured 13 wards, while the Congress and an independent candidate got one seat each. The BJP, despite its best attempts to open an account in the civic body, drew a blank.
Elections to the Ranpur Notified Area Council were held Tuesday. A total of 55 candidates were in the fray. Voter turnout for the poll was 80 per cent, covering a population of 9,969 — of which 5,300 were men and 4669 women.
Election for the chairman post in Ranpur NAC would be held May 18.
The victory for the BJD is a repeat of its earlier win in the civic polls in eight ULBs, five NACs and three municipalities April 7. Of the total 129 wards in these ULBs, the BJD clinched 103 wards whereas the Congress and the BJP got 11 and 12 wards respectively. Three were won by independents.
Notably, election to Ranpur NAC was originally scheduled along with these eight ULBs but was postponed by the state election commission following reports of discrepancy in reservation of wards.
