BJP, Congress claim big victory in the Panchayat polls
Bengaluru: Both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in Karnataka on Wednesday claimed major victories for candidates backed by them in the recent elections to over 5,700 village panchayats even as the counting of votes polled in the grass-root level exercise was underway.
The elections, not held on party symbols, were conducted to 82,616 seats in 5,728 village panchayats in two phases on December 22 and 27 using ballot papers with a voter turnout of 78.58 percent, and counting was taken up on Wednesday morning.
Karnataka State Election Commission officials said counting was on at 226 centers at the Taluk headquarters by adhering to strict COVID-19 protocol of mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene.
Though there was no official declaration of results till night, BJP state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah maintained that candidates backed by their parties were winning in maximum seats.
A total of 2,22,814 candidates contested the election, while 8,074 were elected unopposed.
Though these polls are not held on party symbols, all political parties have put in efforts to ensure that the candidate supported by them wins, so as to have their hold on grass-root level politics.
In a statement, Kateel said BJP "won maximum seats", for which he gave credit to various strategies drawn by the party.
He said rural-centric schemes such as Gram Swaraj and activation of booth level committees helped in talking to the people the measures initiated by the Central and state governments for development.
"People supported the development and voted in favor of the BJP backed candidates," Kateel said.
Siddaramaiah in a series of tweets claimed that the farmers taught the BJP a lesson.
"Rural India is frustrated by the policies implemented by @BJP4India. Farmers are against anti-farmer laws and they found Gram Panchayat elections as the perfect opportunity to teach @BJP4India a lesson. Reports suggest that @INCKarnataka supported candidates are winning," he said.
"Congress has always stood firmly with farmers and rural India. This has always instilled confidence among people.
The tradition of winning has continued," he tweeted.
Noting that this was a challenging time for the Congress in the state, the former chief minister expressed apprehensions that the BJP might lure its winning candidates to switch over.
The JD(S) has not yet made any statement on the poll outcome.
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NEET UG paper leak: CBI arrests Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) founder in Latur
New Delhi (PTI): The CBI has arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar who runs the Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) in Maharashtra's Latur city in the NEET UG paper leak case, officials said on Monday.
A leaked question paper for the medical entrance exam was found on Motengaonkar' phone mobile during searches conducted by the agency on Sunday. He was arrested after that.
The CBI has alleged that Motegaonkar was an active member of the organised gang involved in the leakage and circulation of the NEET UG paper, the officials said.
Motegaonkar in conspiracy with other accused received the question paper and answers of NEET UG Exam, 2026 ahead of April 23, 2026 exam, they said. He allegedly circulated the paper to several persons.
