BJP leads, Congress finishes second in Assam rural polls

While the ruling BJP in Assam has won a majority of the seats in the panchayat polls, its alliance partner, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has secured the third position while the Congress finished second.

Out of 420 Zila Parishad council seats, the BJP secured 205 seats, the Congress 142 while the AGP could manage only 18. The Moulana Badaruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 25 Zila Parishad council seats.

The BJP has taken a lead by securing 1001 seats in the Anchalik Parishads followed by 731 by the Congress and 105 by the AGP. The AIUDF managed to win 138 seats in the Anchalik Parishads. For the GP presidents, the BJP won 973 seats, the Congress came second by winning 732 seats, followed by a mere 125 by the AGP.

While the results of most of the seats were declared on Saturday, counting of ballots is still on for some districts, which is likely to be over by tomorrow.

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said that the BJP has failed to sweep the polls despite using money and muscle power.

"The Congress despite being in opposition has managed to secure the second position," he said adding that the people of the state now know about the misrule of the BJP.

Referring to the assembly results in five states, Gogoi said that the people of the country have given a mandate against the BJP and added that this will be repeated in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The regional party had launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

--IANS

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