Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has swept the urban local body (ULB) polls in Attabira and Hindol NACs in Bargarh and Dhenkanal districts respectively. The results of the polls held on April 3 were declared on Wednesday.
While BJD won 11 of 12 wards in Attabira NAC, one seat went to Congress. Congress candidate Dipak Ray won from ward-1, BJD’s Sibananda Tripathy from ward-2, Nepal Pradhan from ward-3; Sabita Mallick from ward-4; Rajib Kahra from ward-5; Pramila Pradhan from ward-6; Bilesh Janpuri from ward-7; Renuka Pradhan from ward-8; Narayan Sahu from ward-9; Surekha Bag from ward-10 and Anusaya Biswal from ward-12.
BJD’s Banamali Bariha defeated his nearest rival Sabita Bhue of Congress by a margin of 4,828 votes to secure the NAC Chairperson post. While Bariha polled 6,565 votes, 1,737 votes went in favour of Bhue. BJP candidate Laxmi Behera ended up at third position with 1,532 votes.
Speaking on the party’s resounding victory, MLA Snehagini Chhuria said, “People of Attabira have again handed over victory to BJD. We will continue to carry out developmental activities in the civic body and meet aspirations of the people.”
In Hindol NAC, the BJD has registered victory in 11 of 16 wards while five wards went to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which failed to grab any seat in Attabira. BJD candidate Keshab Chandra Pradhan was elected as the NAC Chairperson as he polled 4,347 votes, followed by BJP’s Sovagini Pradhan with 3,923 votes and Congress’ Rita Palei with 219 votes.
With 9,863 voters, Hindol had recorded a voter turnout of 87 per cent during the poll. Attabira NAC, which has around 13,520 voters, recorded a voter turnout of 74 per cent.
The clean sweep by BJD has boosted the morale of the party cadre in Attabira and Hindol. Party workers were seen celebrated the win.
