03-28-2005, 12:34 PM
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.p...&pid=70&page=32
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> BJP bounces back in J&K
From Our Correspondent
Shri Kavinder Gupta of the BJP has been elected as the first Mayor of the Jammu Municipal Corporation giving serious jolt to the Congress which had been employing all fair and foul means to secure the top post in this city of temples.
In a keen contest, Shri Kavinder secured 36 votes in the 71-member Corporation against 34 to the Congress nominee, Bansi Lal. One rebel winner in the Corporation of the Congress did not vote.
In the recently held civic elections in this state, the BJP captured 25 seats despite foul play and misuse of official resources by the Congress which secured 27 seats in addition to two by its share-holder in the state coalition, the PDP. The BJP had fought the elections in alliance with Shiv Sena which secured one seat. Six seats went to the National Conference, one to the BSP and nine to the independents.
The BJP fielded its nominee for the mayorship whereas the post of Deputy Mayor was left for the National Conference which fielded their nominee, Shri Dharmvir Singh.
As there was infighting in the Congress, the party had put up Shri Bansi Lal Gupta for the post of Mayor although he was elected to the JMC as a rebel when he defeated the party's official candidate, Shri Gurmeet Singh.
Some ministers of the Congress were behind the candidature of Shri Bansi Lal. They not only helped in his victory but also insisited on fielding him as party nominee for the top post of Mayor.
However, in the initial phase, the Congress had planned to field Smt. Rani Balowaria, wife of the state Chief Secretary for the post of Mayor. Under this plan a special Ward No. 71 was created at the eleventh hour with a voter's strength of 446, whereas under law the normal strength should have been over 5,000 votes. Moreoever, this was just a part of Sidhra area outside the city where only the senior officers reside. This ward has little contiguity with the city limits as the whole of Sidhra was not included in the ward.
As certain ministers and some others in the Congress were backing Shri Bansi Lal Gupta, ultimately Smt. Bulowaria was put up as party nominee for the post of Deputy Mayor. She defeated the National Conference nominee with a margin of merely two votes.
The Congress leadership including some in New Delhi had gathered here to employ all kinds of means for securing victory in the election for mayorship but they failed because of the united fight by the opposition against attempts of the Congress to capture the post. This has obviously created flutter in the Congress as the party has lost to the BJP and independents at about half a dozen places. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> BJP bounces back in J&K
From Our Correspondent
Shri Kavinder Gupta of the BJP has been elected as the first Mayor of the Jammu Municipal Corporation giving serious jolt to the Congress which had been employing all fair and foul means to secure the top post in this city of temples.
In a keen contest, Shri Kavinder secured 36 votes in the 71-member Corporation against 34 to the Congress nominee, Bansi Lal. One rebel winner in the Corporation of the Congress did not vote.
In the recently held civic elections in this state, the BJP captured 25 seats despite foul play and misuse of official resources by the Congress which secured 27 seats in addition to two by its share-holder in the state coalition, the PDP. The BJP had fought the elections in alliance with Shiv Sena which secured one seat. Six seats went to the National Conference, one to the BSP and nine to the independents.
The BJP fielded its nominee for the mayorship whereas the post of Deputy Mayor was left for the National Conference which fielded their nominee, Shri Dharmvir Singh.
As there was infighting in the Congress, the party had put up Shri Bansi Lal Gupta for the post of Mayor although he was elected to the JMC as a rebel when he defeated the party's official candidate, Shri Gurmeet Singh.
Some ministers of the Congress were behind the candidature of Shri Bansi Lal. They not only helped in his victory but also insisited on fielding him as party nominee for the top post of Mayor.
However, in the initial phase, the Congress had planned to field Smt. Rani Balowaria, wife of the state Chief Secretary for the post of Mayor. Under this plan a special Ward No. 71 was created at the eleventh hour with a voter's strength of 446, whereas under law the normal strength should have been over 5,000 votes. Moreoever, this was just a part of Sidhra area outside the city where only the senior officers reside. This ward has little contiguity with the city limits as the whole of Sidhra was not included in the ward.
As certain ministers and some others in the Congress were backing Shri Bansi Lal Gupta, ultimately Smt. Bulowaria was put up as party nominee for the post of Deputy Mayor. She defeated the National Conference nominee with a margin of merely two votes.
The Congress leadership including some in New Delhi had gathered here to employ all kinds of means for securing victory in the election for mayorship but they failed because of the united fight by the opposition against attempts of the Congress to capture the post. This has obviously created flutter in the Congress as the party has lost to the BJP and independents at about half a dozen places. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->