Bhubaneswar, March 26 : Ruling Biju Janata Dal ( BJD) candidates are leading in major M cipalities, NACs and all the three m cipal corporations in Odisha as the counting for 106 civic bodies and three M cipal corporations began at 08 00 hours on Saturday amid tight security. State Election Commission sources said all the three mayoral candidates of the ruling Biju Janata Dal are leading in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhumpur M cipal corporations. As far as chairperson elections in 47 M cipalities and 59 NACs , the ruling BJD candidates are leading in 73 civic bodies while the opposition BJP candidates are leading in 18 civic bodies. The Congress candidates are leading in seven civic bodies and the Independents in nine civic bodies The elections to the urban local bodies were held amid tight security on March 24 and 65 percent of voters turned out to exercise their franchise and decide the fate of 6411 candidates. For the first time the elections to the Chairpersons of the M cipalities and NACs and Mayor for the three m cipal corporations were held in the state. DP BM
