NEW DELHI: Former Haryana chief minister and Congress veteran Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday dismissed the significance of the BJP’s victory in the Haryana municipal elections, saying that the party had won in the past as well.
“BJP won before also. What is new in this?… We never said that we contested these elections seriously… Even when I was the Chief Minister, I never participated in the Panchayat elections. Only brotherhood works in these elections… The result would have been a loss for us if we had a seat (in local bodies) and lost it… Mostly independent candidates stand in these elections,” Hooda said.
Meanwhile, after the BJP secured nine mayoral posts, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini highlighted the role of local bodies in achieving PM Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat“.
“Our local body government and this triple-engine government will play a crucial role in fulfilling PM Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat,'” Saini told reporters.
Expressing gratitude to the people of Haryana, Saini described the election results as a “stamp of approval” on the state’s triple-engine government.
The BJP swept the municipal elections, securing mayoral posts in nine locations, with Manesar being the only exception. Voting took place on March 2.
Following her victory in Faridabad, mayor-elect Parveen Joshi expressed appreciation for public support and acknowledged the challenges faced by residents.
“I am aware of the difficulties and necessities of the people. There are issues with drinking water, garbage, and sewage. Union minister Krishan Pal Gurjar has given assurance that we will work together and that there will be no obstacles to the implementation of schemes. People have placed their trust in me… I express my gratitude to them. I will resolve their issues one by one,” Joshi said.
As vote counting concluded in Faridabad, the Haryana Election Commission website confirmed Joshi’s victory over Congress candidate Lata Rani by a margin of 3,16,852 votes.
