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The Congress in Rajasthan gave a close fight to the ruling BJP government in the local bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) bypolls. The results were declared on Thursday.
Of the 17 Panchayat samiti member’s by-election held in 14 districts, BJP won 11, Congress five and one seat went to an independent candidate. On five seats candidates were elected unopposed.
On the Zila Parishad bypoll held in Sawai Madhopur, the Congress candidate defeated BJP with 358 votes. Similarly, of nine municipality seats in eight districts, Congress won five and BJP settled with two, and one each to independent and Nationalist Congress Party.
The elections were held on June 12.
State Congress president Sachin Pilot said the result of local bodies shows that urban voters, especially youth and women, have discarded BJP because of their anti-people policies. “Under the BJP government, the youth are suffering because of unemployment and are lathi charged. The BJP government has not fulfilled any promises made to the people. The law and order situation is deteriorating – minors are being raped but the government is insensitive.”
He said that there is no relief from inflation, rather new taxes are being imposed. The situation of basic infrastructure shows that the BJP government has made no attempt to develop cities.
BJP state general secretary Bhajan Lal Sharma said that the result shows that people have expressed their faith in pro-people policies of the BJP and discarded the false propaganda of Congress against development. Of 27 seats, which went for bypolls, BJP won on 13.
Sharma said the people have shown the mirror to the Congress as their seats have decreased, which indicates people will support the government.
Prasanta Patnaik