BJP, Cong claim victory in panchayat poll

Ruling BJP and Congress both have claimed victory in panchayat elections in Karnataka. As per reports, BJP-backed candidates have won 29,478 seats while the Congress-supported candidates have bagged 24,560. The JD(S) candidates have won 15,825 panchayat seats. Chief minister BS Yediyurappa said the results were a testimony of people's faith in Narendra Modi government's polices. He said that 60 per cent of seats have been won by BJP-backed candidates. Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that rural India is frustrated by the policies implemented by the BJP. “Farmers are against anti-farmer laws and they found gram panchayat elections as the perfect opportunity to teach BJP a lesson. Reports suggest that Congress backed candidates are winning,” he said.