Varanasi/Ayodhya: Of the 40 Zila Panchayat seats in Varanasi, the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party has registered victory on 15, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has won only 8 seats. Notably, Varanasi and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh are considered crucial for the party politics in the state. The two districts have been the focal point of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s development policies and the two cities are being developed as the hub of religious tourism. In Ayodhya, the Samajwadi Party has won 24 of the 40 Zila Panchayat seats while the BJP could win only six seats. On the remaining 10 seats, the Mayawati-led BSP has won five and independents also got five.

Reacting to the results, a BJP spokesperson said they would introspect on the reasons for the party’s unexpected performance. A senior party functionary, however, said that the results were a result of anger prevailing among the cadres and also the number of rebel candidates.

“Cadres have been complaining for long that their grievances are not being addressed in the districts where officials call the shots. This is a warning signal for us and we need to set things right before the Assembly polls next year,” news agency IANS quoted him as saying.

The functionary, who did not wish to be named, also blamed the local ministers in Varanasi for the party’s poor performance. “They have not been connecting to party workers. This lack of connection between leaders and workers is responsible for the party’s performance,” he added.

Full List of newly elected Gram Pradhan in Varanasi

  • Sonbarsa – Pramod
  • Babhanpura – Basant Kumar
  • Saraiya Vishunpura – Ashna
  • Puranpatti – Rajesh
  • Pahadia – Anita
  • Tofapur-Sapli
  • Paranapur – Vijay Kumar
  • Tatepur – Geeta Devi
  • Allopur – Sanjay
  • Umarhan – Udal Patel
  • Singhwar – Marjadi
  • Aili – Rampher
  • Muridpur – Tufani
  • Madhani – Jayanarayan
  • Saraiya No 2 – Malti
  • Amarpatti – Bechu
  • Chandpur – Santara Devi
  • Milkopur – Amrit Singh
  • Narpatpur – Omprakash
  • Dubkiyan -Sanjeev Singh

Meanwhile, counting for UP gram panchayat election is currently underway. Of the total 3,050 seats, BJP-backed candidates are leading in 918 seats, while SP leaders are ahead on 504. BSP-supported candidates are leading in 132, Congress 62 and others 608 seats.

(With agency inputs)