Major gains for Congress in local body polls at Aurangabad

Mumbai: The results for elections in four municipal councils in Aurangabad district were out on Monday, after the polling booths witnessed an average of 45 per cent voter turnout on Sunday. The Congress emerged as the major gainer in the third phase of the elections, with the BJP coming in at number two, followed by the Shiv Sena and the NCP.  

The four municipal councils in Aurangabad district where voter results were declared on Monday saw the Congress winning at two places, with the BJP and Shiv Sena winning one municipal council each. Meanwhile, at one council, the BJP won the post of the president, but the Shiv Sena bagged a majority of the councillor posts.

Congress state president Ashok Chavan said, “It has been proved once again that the Congress has emerged as one of the biggest parties in the state. The BJP tried very hard by conducting rallies, but could not obtain much success due to its poor governance at the state and central level.”

According to the state election commission, the voter turnout on Sunday was 77.16 per cent at Kannad municipal council, 79.77 per cent at Khultabad, 79.77 per cent at Gangapur and 75.56 per cent at Paithan.  

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty said, “We have come out as the stronger party in places where we did not have councillors. The Congress was saying that people were in their favour, but people have stood by the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis and Raosaheb Danve.”