SAD-BJP combine sweeps municipal polls in Punjab

The ruling Akali-BJP combine won all four municipal corporations elections held in the state. The elections,which witnessed a 75 per cent turnout,were marred with incidents of violence and hooliganism

The ruling Akali-BJP combine won all four municipal corporations elections held in the state on Sunday. The elections,which witnessed a 75 per cent turnout,were marred with incidents of violence and hooliganism.

While the Akali-BJP alliance is comfortably in the saddle in Amritsar,its victory in Patiala has been stained with allegations of rampant booth capturing. In Ludhiana,the ruling alliance barely managed a majority of 39 seats in the 75-seat House. In Jalandhar,though the BJP carried the day for the ruling combine,it could wrest only 30 out of the 60 seats.

On the whole,the SAD-BJP won 146 of the 250 total seats contested in the four cities and the Congress,managed only 52 seats.

In Patiala,while the Akali-BJP combine won 39 out of the 50 seats,the Congress could manage only eight. But despite the thumping victory,the Akalis lost out on three seats and the BJP four from its 2007 tally. The Congress won six seats more than last time.

In Amritsar,the ruling alliance won on 48 out of the 65 seats with SAD and BJP getting an equal share of seats. Congress got only four seats.

In Jalandhar,while the SAD got 11 seats,BJP got 19 seats. The Congress has got 22 seats. Out of the six Independent candidates who have won,the SAD-BJP combine needs the support of at least one to rule the corporation.

According to sources,organised attempt was made by Akali-BJP workers to scuttle polling at several booths in Patiala. EVMs were broken by unidentified youth. The EC office here said while the broken machines were replaced with new ones repolling would take place at one booth.

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The poll results of three municipal councils of Machhiwara, Balachaur and Dharamkot elections were also declared on Sunday,with the ruling party winning most seats.

Candidate shot in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA: In Ludhiana,Independent candidate Gurvinder Singh alas Bunty Bajwa,was shot dead in Bahadur Ke area allegedly by one Karanveer Singh,said to be an SAD supporter,and his associates. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Ishwar Singh said the murder had nothing to do with the civic polls and was a result of personal enmity between Bajwa and Karanveer.

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