"BJP won before also. What is new in this? "Bhupinder Singh Hooda downplays BJP's victory in Haryana's municipal polls

Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], March 13 (ANI): Former Haryana Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday downplayed the BJP's performance in the Haryana Municipal Elections, stating that the party had won previously as well.
"BJP won before also. What is new in this?... We never said that we contested these elections seriously... Even when I was the Chief Minister, I never participated in the Panchayat elections. Only brotherhood works in these elections... The result would have been a loss for us if we had a seat (in local bodies) and lost it... Mostly independent candidates stand in these elections," he said.
On Wednesday, as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept nine mayoral posts in the municipal elections, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the local body government and the triple-engine government at the state level would play an important role in releasing the vision of Viksit Bharat (developed India).
"Our local body government and this triple-engine government will play a crucial role in fulfilling PM Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat, '" Saini told reporters earlier.
Expressing gratitude to the people of the state, he said that the results of the local body elections were a "stamp of approval" on the triple-engine government of Haryana.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana has swept the elections to local bodies, with its candidates winning mayoral posts in nine places except Manesar. The voting took place on March 2.
Earlier, Parveen Joshi, the Mayor-elect from Faridabad, on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the people and said that she was aware of the difficulties and necessities faced by them.
Asserting that people's issues would be resolved, she apprised people of the assurances given by Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar, saying there would be no obstacles in implementing schemes for the people.
"I am aware of the difficulties and necessities of the people. There are issues with drinking water, garbage, and sewage. Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar has given assurance that we will work together and that there will be no obstacles to the implementation of schemes. People have placed their trust in me...I express my gratitude to them. I will resolve their issues one by one," Joshi said.
As the counting of votes for municipal elections concluded in Faridabad, the Haryana Election Commission website declared Parveen Joshi of the BJP the winner of the mayoral post. She defeated Congress's Lata Rani by a margin of 3,16,852 votes. (ANI)