The ruling BJD, headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, has registered a thumping victory in the municipal polls held in Orissa on Thursday. Of the 66 urban local bodies, the BJD got majority at 44 places whereas the Congress is set to from councils in 15 urban local bodies (ULBs).
The BJP, which desperately banked on brand Narendra Modi during the poll campaign, got majority in one ULB — Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district. The Independents were well ahead in ULBs like Jatni, Udala, Kodala and Anandapur. Though the BJD leaders heaved a sigh of relief after the results were announced on Friday afternoon, they also appeared a little perturbed to find that the Congress out-clashed them in some of their strongholds like Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Digapahandi, Athamallick, Barbil and Nayagarh.