NEW DELHI: The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance on Sunday recorded a decisive victory in Maharashtra’s local body elections, with the party claiming 48 per cent of councillor seats and winning 129 municipal council presidencies.Counting of votes for 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, conducted in two phases, showed the BJP emerging as the single largest party. “48 per cent councillors have been elected on the BJP symbol, which is a record. The BJP has created another record with 3,300 councillors being elected from the party. BJP candidates have been elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. In 75 per cent of the local bodies, Mahayuti nominees have been elected as municipal presidents,” Fadnavis said. He attributed the success to the party organisation and the government’s development agenda, noting, “It is the team effort – the organisation and government. We fought the polls on the development plank. I led a positive campaign on the development agenda. I never criticised any political leader or party. I solicited votes on the development agenda, the work done by the government so far, and our blueprint for the future. ” Mahayuti allies – including BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP – contested in some areas against each other. While opposition parties, mainly Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), conceded defeat and raised allegations. There were alliances as well as “friendly fights” among Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents as well. .State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal congratulated winning candidates but added, in a comment, that the state election commission “helped” the ruling alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders accused the Mahayuti of using “money and muscle power” and alleged EVM tampering, PTI reported. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the victory of Mahayuti was because of “tampering” of EVMs. He added the opposition couldn’t withstand a “hailstorm” of money.His party colleague Ambadas Danve alleged “money and muscle power” shaped the Mahayuti win. “The Mahayuti has bagged a larger number of seats as compared to constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, thanks to the muscle and money power deployed by the ruling parties,” Danve told PTI in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. BJP state president Ravindra Chavan described the results as a “decisive mandate,” claiming Mahayuti had won more than 250 councils, nagar parishads, and nagar panchayats, with BJP candidates securing 134 council chief posts and over 3,000 councillor seats. “The Opposition levelled all kinds of allegations during the campaign, but people saw through them. Uddhav Thackeray himself said he had nothing to offer to the people and that is why his party was rejected. His party could not even win council chairperson posts in double digits,” Chavan claimed.He went on to say, “Now, Mumbaikars too would reject the opposition’s narrative in the upcoming BMC polls.” Union minister Nitin Gadkari called it an “overwhelming success” and “a victory for our workers.”While the Mahayuti largely dominated the elections, Congress and NCP retained control in some areas, including Chandrapur, Sangli, and Loha, with wins in Palghar for the Shiv Sena and in Nanded for Marathwada Janhit Party. Recounting was ordered in Kamptee municipal council after a narrow 116-vote BJP victory, officials said.(With inputs from agencies) Go to Source
