BJP makes substantial gains

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 28. The BJP has made substantial gains in the elections to the local bodies, opening accounts in several municipalities and panchayats in the State.

Its strength would be a deciding factor in Kochi Corporation and municipalities such as Thiruvalla. It won two seats in Kochi and improved its position from one to four seats each in Thiruvalla and Alappuzha municipalities. It could open accounts or improve position in municipalities such as Kottayam, Ponnani, Tirur, Kannur, Chengannur, Changassery, Kayamkulam and Palakkad municipalities. The BJP will have a presence in Kozhikode and Thrissur Corporation also. It, however, suffered a set back in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Besides, it lost seats in Kasaragod and Taliparamba municipalities.

It appears that the BJP's policy of being open to alliance with anyone in the arena and its new status as the ruling party at the Centre have paid dividends and helped it to expand influence.

The party gained new ground in Pathanamthitta district and improved position in Palakkad district. It won seven seats in the Palakkad municipality. A BJP-supported Independent won a seat in the Kannur municipality for the first time, wresting it from the UDF.

In Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP lost two of its three sitting seats. Though Independents supported by it won two seats in addition to the one retained by it, one of the seats is in the newly-added area of the Corporation. Its share in the total number of seats in the Corporation (including the Independents) would be only 3.7 per cent against six per cent in the outgoing Council.

The party's set back here is attributed to the violence unleashed by the party in the city on July 13 during the Plus Two agitation that alienated the people, especially the trading community. The infighting in the party also contributed. In Palakkad municipality, where the infighting has been acute during the organisational elections, a BJP rebel made it to the Municipal council.

Details of BJP victories in panchayats are only coming in. It won 26 seats in the grama panchayats out of 1,492 results declared.

The BJP president, Mr. C. K. Padmanabhan, attributed the party's improved performance in several districts to the disenchantment among the people towards the two main political fronts in the State. He also claimed that the antagonism shown by the two fronts against the party actually attracted the sympathies of the people towards the BJP. The BJP improved its position considerably. Major gains could be made in Pathanamthitta district, he noted.

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Section  : Southern States
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