PATNAGARH FACE-SAVER FOR BJP, KV SINGH DEOSunday, 24 November 2013 | PNS | Balangir | in Bhubaneswar

PATNAGARH FACE-SAVER FOR BJP, KV SINGH DEO

Sunday, 24 November 2013 | PNS | Balangir | in Bhubaneswar

 Till the last day before the battle over ballot began, the ruling BJD seemed to have an upper hand in Patnagarh too and the BJP, the winner in 2009 elections, did not seem to have a chance to retain the NAC.

However, the saffron party turned the tables and romped home with its old bastion, much to the embarrassment of the BJD. It was also a prestige issue for the BJP as it is the home turf of its State president KV Singh Deo, who is the MLA of the Patnagarh constituency in Balangir district. This consecutive victory for the BJP at Patnagarh is the only silver lining for the party in this round of ULB elections as the party failed to win any other civic body.

The BJP succeeded in bagging 10 seats out of 16 in the Patnagarh NAC while only four went to the BJD, which had also fielded Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and cine stars and comedian Papu Pom Pom to canvass for its candidates here. Balangir MP Kalikesh Singh Deo also camped at Patnagarh during the electioneering.

In the Balangir Parliamentary constituency, ULB elections were held in five towns, out of which the BJD has captured four. “We have to analyse the result of Patnagarh NAC,” said Kalikesh Singh Deo, who is also the BJD district president.

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