Municipal Polls: Nearly 50 successful independent candidates were supported by BJP

Srinagar: BJP on Wednesday claimed that nearly 50 winning independent candidates in recently held Municipal elections were supported by the party.
While addressing a press conference here at Srinagar, BJP spokesperson Ravinder Raina said the party had used these independent candidates to get majority in ULB polls.
“There was a time when BJP was used to scare people but now lotus bloomed from Lal Qila to Lal Chowk. We finally made it to 106 seats,” he said.
“Many places including Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), BJP supported candidates have won. We currently are in touch with nearly 50 independent candidates,” Raina added.
When asked whether former NC spokesperson Junaid Muttu would be chosen as Mayor, Raina said that any decision on mayoral candidate will follow after due consultation with winning candidates.
“We want educated and good people to come forward. The party will certainly get opinion from our candidates and mayor will be chosen democratically,” he added.
Raina said that their workers “overcame the pressure exerted by the local parties” which preferred boycott to polls.
“Our workers showed that courage and file nomination under the worst circumstances. We have won unopposed at many places,” he said.
The BJP spokesperson said the party’s mission was to ensure development of the state through decentralization of power.
“There will be a good funding by the Centre to the municipal committees for development and their proper utilisation,” he said.
When asked about the party’s low performance from Chenab valley, Raina said that winning independent candidates from the region were also supported by them.