In a shakeup for the BJP in Maharashtra, the party has won only the seat of the local bodies of Dhule-Nandurbar in the biennial elections of the State Legislative Council, while Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has registered victory in the graduate districts from Aurangabad and Pune. Results for three other seats have yet to be declared, but MVA candidates are leading in two seats.
On December 1, biennial elections were held for six legislative council seats: three graduates and two teachers, as well as one local agency seat. Reacting to the MVA’s performance, Maharashtra’s Chief Deputy Minister Ajit Pawar said on Friday that the victory of the alliance candidates was a symbol of unity among the alliance’s components. He said it showed that the people of the state had placed their faith in the government.
In a statement, Pawar thanked voters for their tenure on behalf of the MVA candidates. “The victory of the MVA candidates is a symbol of unity among all members of the alliance and the faith placed in the state government by the people,” he said.
Maharashtra minister and head of the state CPN, Jayant Patil, said the poll result showed that, in addition to farmers, workers and middle class people, highly educated voters also support the MVA government. Interior Minister Anil Deshmukh also thanked voters, adding that they “bowed the lofty neck” of rival parties in backing the MVA candidates.
“We were humble before the people yesterday, we are today and always will be. Congratulations to the #MahaVikasAghadi candidates,” he tweeted in Marathi. Deshmukh also said that opposition parties should now support the government in developing the state.
“If he can’t do it, he should at least stop anti-Maharashtra #BJP activities,” the minister said. Thanking the voters, NCP Deputy Supriya Sule congratulated all those who “worked hard” to ensure the victory of the MVA candidates.
PWD Minister and Congressional Leader Ashok Chavan also praised the performance of the MVA in five of the six electoral districts that went to the polls. Referring to the ‘Maharashtra Express’, a train service between Kolhapur and Gondia, Chavan tweeted: “In the elections to the five council seats that people directly voted for, the BJP has been distributed in around 24 districts from Kolhapur to Gondia. This is the ‘Maharashtra Express’ of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. “
(With PTI inputs)
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