BJD sweeps BMC Polls in Bhubaneswar

As expected, the ruling Biju Janata Dal swept the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, leaving the Congress and BJP grasping for their lives. The BJD won 49 out of 67 wards, while the BJP managed to win 4 wards. The Congress Party finished third with just two wards.

The Independents, mostly the BJD rebels, won 12 wards. Prominent among the winners are Mayor Anant Narayan Jena and Pritinanda Routray (Ward No. 6). On the other hand, social activist Linkan Subudhi, who contested on a BJD ticket, lost to Monalisa Sahoo (Independent).

In 2008, the BJD had won 40 out of 60 wards, while the BJP had won 9 wards. The Congress had to be content with just 4 wards. This time, both national parties slumped further, while the BJD managed to better its tally, riding high on Naveen Patnaik’s rising popularity.