BJD wins Baliguda, Champua NAC polls

BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD registered victory in elections to two newly created notified area councils (NAC), the results of which were declared on Thursday.

Out of the total 13 wards in Baliguda NAC in Kandhamal district, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won nine. Congress won three wards and BJP in one.

In Champua NAC in Keonjhar district, BJD registered victory in nine wards and the remaining four were pocketed by independent candidates. Congress and BJP candidates failed to open their accounts in the mineral rich Champua NAC.

During polling on Tuesday, Champua witnessed a turnout of 83 per cent and Baliguda 74 per cent.

"The mandates in two NACs prove that the BJD led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is still going strong and the people have faith on the state government," BJD spokesman Samir Ranjan Dash said.

Congress and BJP alleged that man and money power helped the ruling party to win the polls.