Victory in Maharashtra Gram Panchayat polls shows support for BJP's development agenda: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the Gram Panchayat polls in Maharashtra and thanked people for their unwavering support.

The Prime Minister also congratulated Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state party chief Raosaheb Danve.

"I thank people of Maharashtra for the impressive win of BJP in Gram Panchayat polls across the state. I congratulate @BJP4Maharashtra, @Dev_Fadnavis and @raosahebdanve for the impressive performance in Gram Panchayat polls across the state," Modi said in a series of tweets.

"Wonderful victory of @BJP4Maharashtra in rural areas shows the unwavering support of the farmers, youth & poor for BJP's development agenda," he said in another tweet.

Wonderful victory of @BJP4Maharashtra in rural areas shows the unwavering support of the farmers, youth & poor for BJP's development agenda.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2017

According to reports, the results of 2,974 bodies of 3,884 which went to polls in the first phase were declared on Monday. Reports claim that the BJP won 1,457, followed by Congress (301), Shiv Sena (222) and Nationalist Congress Party (194).

However, the BJP suffered a setback in Pankaja Munde's hometown Parali in Beed district of Marathwada where the NCP emerged as a winner.

The victory for the BJP comes at the time when the BJP government is facing severe criticism due to a slowdown in the economy and receiving flak over farm loan waiver issue.

"Thank you Hon @narendramodi ji! It is the victory of people’s faith on your strong leadership &vision of taking development to the last man," said Fadnavis in reply to PM Modi.

Thank you Hon @narendramodi ji!
It is the victory of people’s faith on your strong leadership &vision of taking development to the last man. https://t.co/rbKuOm8VGy

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) October 10, 2017