Congress to have first mayor in Jammu

The Congress is all set to have its first mayor in the Jammu municipal corporation.

With the support of seven independent candidates, the the People's Democratic Party-led coalition, which includes the Congress, on Saturday managed enough strength to gain control of the municipal corporation in Jammu.

"The Congress party got the support of seven independents, which was required to gain control of the municipal corporation in Jammu," Minister of State for Transport Raman Bhalla told reporters in Jammu on Friday evening.

The PDP-led coalition now has the support of 36 corporators, including the independents.

"The Congress got the support of the independent corporators because they felt the party represented secular values and its commitment to the development and progress of Jammu was time-tested," Bhalla claimed.

The independents have already handed over to him their letters of support, he claimed.

The Jammu municipal corporation polls on February one had thrown up a fractured verdict with no party getting anywhere close to a clear majority.

The PDP-led coalition, which is in power in the state, won 29 seats. Of these, 27 belonged to the Congress. The opposition, National Conference, bagged six.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance bagged 26 seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party won one. Nine independents were also elected.