Early Times Report
Jammu, October 21: Even as BJP swept the prestigious Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) with a thumping majority, it was a big shocker for RSS as Mayor candidate projected by the Sangh has lost election from Top Sherkhanian ward.
Credible sources said that despite opposition by BJP cadre, RSS had managed mandate for Parbhat Singh Jamwal from Top Sherkhanian ward so that he would be made Mayor in case BJP get majority in the Jammu Municipal Corporation. Jamwal, who was earlier leader of the J&K Bank Officers Association had attained superannuation a couple of years back.
Local BJP leaders opposed candidature of Jamwal due to his non connectivity with the locals but top RSS leaders pressured BJP to give ticket to Jamwal.
Meanwhile with victory over 43 out of 75 Jammu MC wards, the BJP emerged as the single largest party. The Congress, the main contender against the saffron party in Jammu, managed to grab only 14 seats, while Independents secured 18 seats.
It is BJP's best performance in the civic polls so far despite a lot of speculations about internal bickering over ticket allotment and general resentment among Jammu people against the party for its failure to fulfil its Assembly poll promises. The BJP had won 25 seats in the 2005 municipal elections, while the Congress, which was the ruling party then, had secured 26 seats.
A total of 75 wards of the Jammu MC witnessed 61.92 per cent voting on October 8 during the first phase of the civic elections. As many as 447 candidates were in the fray. |
