Cong, BJP claim wins in local body polls

The results of local body elections in Karnataka have given both the Congress and the BJP something to cheer about ahead of next month's by-polls. Of the 418 wards for which voting was held the Congress won 151, the BJP claimed 125 and the Janata Dal (Secular) won 63; 55 wards were won by independent candidates. "Congress has emerged as the Number 1 party. I would like to thank the voters of local bodies in which the elections were held," party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said. The ruling BJP has done well in its stronghold of Mangaluru. The party took to social media to announce its victory. "Under the leadership of President Nalin Kumar Kateel & Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, the BJP continues its victory march in urban local body elections. We sincerely thank voters for reposing their faith in us by giving 44 seats out of 60 in Mangaluru Corporation. Hearty congratulations to our candidates," the party said in its post.