Rashi Aggarwal of Congress won from ward no 81 (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh) Rashi Aggarwal of Congress won from ward no 81 (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)

The Congress on Tuesday swept the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation polls, winning 62 of the total 95 seats, polling for which was held on February 24 amid clashes and allegations of bogus voting. The SAD-BJP combine emerged as the main Opposition, winning 21 seats. While SAD got 11 out of the 48 seats it contested, BJP won 10 of the 47 seats it fought for. The LIP-AAP alliance, which had the corporation polls for the first time, could manage only eight seats, as per the results declared on Tuesday. While the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) of MLA Bains brothers won seven seats, its ally Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could manage just one. Rest of the four seats were won by Independents.

In the pre-poll seat-sharing arrangement between AAP and LIP, it was announced that AAP would contest 39 seats and LIP 56. However, seven of AAP candidates backed out at the last minute and party contested 32 seats on its symbol, of which it won just 1. One of the LIP candidates too failed to file nomination and it contested 55 seats on its symbol, of which it has won seven. Thus, even before polls, the LIP-AAP combine was short of eight seats.

Also read | BJP’s fortunes see steady slide since 2002, SAD on a seesaw

Congress won 62 of the total 95 seats (Express Photo/Gurmeet Singh) Congress won 62 of the total 95 seats (Express Photo/Gurmeet Singh)

In 2012, there were 75 wards of Ludhiana MC and SAD-BJP had won 39 seats of which 12 were of BJP and SAD won 17. Congress then had won 19 seats and Independents won 17. Then, MLA Simarjit Bains had supported Akali Dal and his candidates had contested on SAD symbol. Though Congress has managed a clear majority in the House winning 62 seats, some of its high-profile candidates have lost the polls. The youngest candidate of the party, 21-year-old Yuvraj Singh Sidhu, who contested his first election from ward number 46 against senior SAD leader Harbhajan Singh Dang, lost by 357 votes. From ward 59, Shallu Dawar, daughter-in-law of Ludhiana Central MLA Surinder Dawar, lost to BJP candidate Prabhjot Kaur.

The lone AAP winner is from ward number 11. Balwinder Kaur, wife of AAP district president Daljit Singh Grewal, has won the seat for AAP and defeated Congress candidate Asha Garg by 1,832 votes. From ward number 44, where repolling was held in two booths following allegations of bogus voting and booth capturing, Harkarandeep Singh Vaid, son of MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid, won by 221 votes against Meetpal Dugri of SAD.

Meanwhile, the lobbying for Mayor’s post within Congress has intensified. The front runners are Mamta Ashu, who won from ward 67, Gurpreet Bassi Gogi from ward 76, Balkar Singh from ward 77 and Dr Jai Prakash from ward 90 . Mamta Ashu is the wife of MLA Bharat Bhusan Ashu. Gurpreet Bassi Gogi is district Congress president and third-time councillor and Balkar Singh has been elected as councillor for fifth time. Speaking to The Indian Express, Punjab’s Leader of the Opposition, Sukhpal Singh Khaira of AAP, said Congress had not won the polls but looted them. “It was all an eyewash exercise. We all know how these polls were held. State election commission is just a puppet in the hands of state government.” Commenting on AAP’s ally LIP getting seven seats, he said, “Bains brothers have done great work for Ludhiana and seeing that people should have voted for them heavily.”

Ranjit Singh Dhillon, SAD district president, said that of 59 per cent polling that was recorded, at least 10 per cent was bogus. “Almost 40 per cent people did not vote and of 59 per cent who voted, at least 10 per cent was bogus. Still, we have won 21 seats which is far better than results of three other cities. People were scared and did not go out to vote. Even seals of some EVMs were broken.”

Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, meanwhile, said the Opposition could now make as many excuses as they could. “People have voted for development of Ludhiana. For 10 years, SAD-BJP was at helm of affairs of Ludhiana MC, they have been rejected. AAP-LIP did not even reach double digits which proves Bains brothers too have been rejected. It is easy to blame the election process. Why did not senior leaders from SAD-BJP campaign in Ludhiana? Because they had nothing to show what they did in 10 years. In many seats, we have lost by thin margin which shows polls were completely fair.” Bittu said a meeting would soon be held with CM Captain Amarinder Singh and PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar to finalise the Mayor nominee.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Ludhiana News, download Indian Express App.