Jammu and Kashmir civic polls: BJP wins 60 seats unopposed, takes control of 6 ULBs

In Jammu and Kashmir civic polls, the BJP has emerged victorious on six out of 79 municipal corporations even as 60 candidates of the saffron party have been elected unopposed.

Image: PTI/ Representational

SRINAGAR: In Jammu and Kashmir civic polls, the BJP has emerged victorious on six out of 79 municipal corporations even as 60 candidates of the saffron party have been elected unopposed. The BJP is considering its performance in six urban bodies as the first step towards "victory" in upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Two major regional players National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) - have boycotted the urban local body (ULB) and panchayat polls in the state. Senior BJP leader and MLC Ramesh Arora said the PDP and the NC are boycotting the civic polls only to undermine the democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. He claimed that the saffron party will sweep the urban body polls.

"Victory in the civic polls will help us dispelling the propaganda about the BJP in the valley and in the upcoming Assembly elections and in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, our party will emerge on top," he said. A BJP spokesperson told the Firstpost that 350 BJP candidates are contesting in 600 municipal wards spread across 10 districts of the Valley and 60 candidates have won without fighting the elections. The first phase of polling will be undertaken on October 8, followed by the second phase on October 10, third phase on October 13 and the fourth and final phase on October 16. The counting of votes will be taken up on October 20.