Lucknow, Nov 7 (UNI) The ruling Samajwadi Party and Opposition BJP today claimed major victories in the urban local bodies elections, results of which were being announced today.

While the SP claimed that despite opposition campaign, the Muslim votebank remained with it, the BJP maintained the results were a reflection of the ruling dispensation's poor performance.

''Our seats have increased in nagar palika parishads and nagar panchayats...though we have maintained our standing in mayoral elections, our vote share has increased,'' state PWD minister and SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters here.

He admitted that the SP was unable to convert its increasing support in the urban areas to get more mayoral seats. ''The elections are local in nature and, therefore, not a reflection on the coming assembly elections due early next year,'' he added.

The BJP, meanwhile, said the election results proved that only it had the courage and mettle to take on the SP in the coming assembly elections. ''The cadre is elated as the results have proved that BJP still enjoyed the support of the electorate,'' BJP state unit president and former UP assembly speaker Kesharinath Tripathi said.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pramod Tiwari said his party's performance in the urban local bodies' elections was a warm up exercise for the assembly elections. ''This is the beginning of Congress' winning spree...people need change which only we can we can provide,'' he claimed.

Though Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had not contested the elections, its state unit leaders claimed that most of the Independents who won were actually BSP workers.

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