Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], February 4 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Thursday expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) success in the upcoming urban body elections, stating that the party is well-prepared and will hold workers' conferences in all urban bodies ahead of the polls.

'Lotus will bloom in these urban body elections, BJP will win,' said Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao.

Speaking about the Chhattisgarh mayoral polls, Sao said, 'We will hold workers' conferences in all urban bodies. On February 1, all BJP workers will raise the party flag at their homes. The workers' conference will energise party members and assign responsibilities for the urban body elections.'

Taking a jibe at the Congress, Sao added, 'The way there is chaos in Congress and their candidates have been selected shows that Congress has accepted defeat even before going to the polls. Effigies of the Congress state president have been burned in multiple places, revealing dissatisfaction. Congress is struggling to find candidates. Lotus will bloom in these urban body elections, BJP will win.'

Earlier on Monday, the Chhattisgarh Election Commission announced that urban local body elections in the state will be held on February 11, with results to be declared on February 15.

The three-tier panchayat elections will take place in three phases on February 17, 20, and 23, with results to be announced on February 18, 21, and 24, respectively.

Meanwhile, the BJP registered a victory in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, securing 19 votes against the 17 votes of the AAP-Congress alliance.

In this election, BJP candidate Harpreet Kaur Babla emerged victorious over Aam Aadmi Party candidate Prem Lata.

Voting for the post of Mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation began at around 11 a.m. During the voting, three councillors from the AAP-Congress alliance cross-voted against Prem Lata, paving the way for the BJP's victory.

(ANI)