Varanasi: Rebel candidates in several wards, along with slow turnout of voters in the initial hours left BJP leaders worried during polling for the prestigious Varanasi Municipal Corporation seats on Thursday.
Though BJP had ousted around 38 rebels, including former deputy mayor Sanjay Rai—who has allegedly put in the fray his brother for corporator post despite denial of party ticket—efforts by the office-bearers to convince many rebels to surrender and campaign for party candidates continued till Wednesday.
While rebelss were posing a tough challenge for BJP candidates in over 35 wards, party cadres were also worried to see weak turnout of voters. Despite massive crowding at the tents of BJP, Samajwadi Party and Congress near almost all polling stations, scene inside polling centres was completely different as queues were rare to find outside booths till late afternoon.
Trend of voter turnout in Muslim dominated localities including Madanpura, Revaritalab, Pilikpthi, Naisadak, Badi Bazar, Saraiyya and others was different from past elections as no long queues were witnessed. Voters in these areas continued reaching polling centres in small groups.
Despite the low turnout, BJP leaders like Dharmendra Singh claimed victory of their party’s mayoral candidates as well as in most of the wards, saying people were voting for the ongoing development work ensured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath at an accelerated pace in Kashi.
Though BJP had ousted around 38 rebels, including former deputy mayor Sanjay Rai—who has allegedly put in the fray his brother for corporator post despite denial of party ticket—efforts by the office-bearers to convince many rebels to surrender and campaign for party candidates continued till Wednesday.
While rebelss were posing a tough challenge for BJP candidates in over 35 wards, party cadres were also worried to see weak turnout of voters. Despite massive crowding at the tents of BJP, Samajwadi Party and Congress near almost all polling stations, scene inside polling centres was completely different as queues were rare to find outside booths till late afternoon.
Trend of voter turnout in Muslim dominated localities including Madanpura, Revaritalab, Pilikpthi, Naisadak, Badi Bazar, Saraiyya and others was different from past elections as no long queues were witnessed. Voters in these areas continued reaching polling centres in small groups.
Despite the low turnout, BJP leaders like Dharmendra Singh claimed victory of their party’s mayoral candidates as well as in most of the wards, saying people were voting for the ongoing development work ensured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath at an accelerated pace in Kashi.