Independent Winners in BJP's Cross Hairs in Ggm, Manesar

A day after comprehensively winning the Gurugram civic body polls, but missing out in Manesar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set its sights on the independent winners in the two municipal corporations in a bid to consolidate its control over the respective bodies, people aware of the matter said on Thursday.

- Leena Dhankhar

GURUGRAM:

The BJP in Gurugram secured 24 out of 36 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) elections, and was victorious in the mayoral polls by a massive 179,485 votes. Of the remaining seats, independent candidates managed to win 10.

However, the party suffered a setback in Manesar, as it could secure only seven of 20 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Manesar (MCM) polls, as independents won the remaining 13 seats. The BJP's mayoral candidate also suffered a slim loss to independent candidate Dr Inderjit Yadav—the only non-BJP mayor-elect in Haryana.

On Thursday, BJP functionaries said they are in talks with at least 10 independent councillors, who are expected to join the party soon.