Itanagar, Dec 21 (NationPress) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a remarkable victory in the local body elections in Arunachal Pradesh, clinching a majority of seats in the Zilla Parishads and Gram Panchayats during the polls held on December 15, as confirmed by officials on Sunday.

The BJP also triumphed in the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) elections, securing 14 out of 20 wards. Nonetheless, the regional People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) claimed victory in the Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC), winning five of the eight wards, while the BJP won two and an Independent candidate took one seat. The opposition Congress was unable to secure any seats in both the IMC and PMC elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the BJP’s stellar performance in the local body elections.

In a post on X, he stated, “The citizens of Arunachal Pradesh exhibit steadfast support for governance that prioritizes the public good. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the people for their affection towards the BJP.”

“This reinforces our commitment to continue working for the state’s progress. I commend the BJP workers for their relentless efforts within the community,” the Prime Minister added.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu also expressed appreciation to the voters for the party’s significant success.

“I am thankful to the people of Arunachal Pradesh for their immense support and trust in the Bharatiya Janata Party. My sincere gratitude goes to our dedicated party workers at all levels for their hard work and dedication, which made this historic win achievable,” Khandu noted in a statement.

Khandu attended victory celebrations at the state BJP office in Itanagar alongside state party president Kaling Moyong, Itanagar MLA Techi Kasso, and party supporters, where they honored newly elected corporators and Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs) from Itanagar-Naharlagun.

The Chief Minister also thanked the State Election Commission (SEC) for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections despite the challenges presented by the state’s rugged terrain and isolation. “I extend sincere thanks to State Election Commissioner Rinchin Tashi and the entire SEC team,” he remarked in a subsequent post.

According to the final results announced by the SEC late on Sunday, the BJP won 170 out of 245 Zilla Parishad seats, including 59 uncontested, solidifying its dominance at the district-level local bodies.

The PPA emerged as the second-largest party with 28 seats, while Congress managed to secure seven seats.

The National People’s Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, acquired five seats, including one uncontested, while Independent and other candidates won 23 seats.

In a similar strong showing in the Gram Panchayat elections, the BJP won 6,085 out of 8,208 seats, including 5,211 uncontested victories, underscoring its robust grassroots presence. The PPA won 648 seats, with 386 uncontested, while Independents secured 627 seats, 280 of which were uncontested.

The Congress captured 216 Gram Panchayat seats, including 111 uncontested, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) obtained 396 seats with 159 uncontested wins. The NPP secured 160 seats, of which 81 were uncontested; the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) gained 27 seats, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won one seat.

According to SEC Secretary Taru Talo, results for 47 Gram Panchayat seats were determined by a draw of lots after candidates received an equal number of votes, while 45 seats were left vacant due to various reasons, such as lack of nominations or invalid candidatures.

While addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters in Itanagar, state BJP president Kaling Moyong remarked that the election results reflect the public's ongoing trust in the party’s development-focused governance.

He further stated that under the third consecutive BJP government led by Chief Minister Khandu, the electorate has demonstrated a pro-incumbent sentiment, endorsing the party’s people-centric policies and transparent administration.