Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena turned out to the single largest party, now holding the keys to forming the civic body in the Nashik Municipal Corporation.
Sudhakar Badgujar and his wife Harsha of the Shiv Sena were the first ones to secure the early lead and get into a winning position. Shiv Sena went on to quickly bag a few seats initially.
Meanwhile, MNS and Shiv Sena kept their score board moving and Congress poured in some more seats to the tally. As expected, the BJP and Shiv Sena then slowed down, leaving the turf open for MNS.
MNS bagged 40 seats, followed by NCP with 20, Congress 15, Shiv Sena 19, BJP 13, RPI(A) two, RPI (Mahayuti) one, Jan RajyaParty two, CPM three and Independents five, (two results yet to be declared, counting going on with independent and NCP leading).
Surprisingly, Nashikites sent more than 30 sitting corporators back home, including the likes of the leader of the opposition, and the standing committee chairman. People seem to have registered their disappointment in their ability to conduct the affairs of the corporation.
As expected, MNS now carries the trump card and will play a deciding role on who rules the house.
If it chooses to take the support of the Shiv Sena and BJP, it will still have the mayoral seat to itself. But if the MNS and Shiv Sena refuse to sit together it will again be a difficult situation. The NCP and Congress will also need support to form the rule at the corporation. No one can bank on the strength of the independents as they are very few in number.
Though it was expected that Raj Thackeray’s charisma will work in Nashik, his only public meeting where he openly challenged the Bhujbals turned many votes towards him. Experts see this verdict as a lesson taught to the Shiv Sena BJP after their 10 year rule and to the Bhujbals as well.
The MNS surged way ahead of any other party, turning the pre-poll enthusiasm to votes. A fact also remains that many of the women candidates of the MNS have won the seats. Surprising though was the defeat of MNS’s Sharvari Luth from ward 22.
Notable losers included the Congress’s Hemlata Patil, Mamta Patil, rebel Shiv Sena candidate Ranjeet Nagarkar, Shiv Sena’s Prashant Avhad, Ashok Gavali, Madhuri Khairnar, Sanjay Bagul, Shiv Sena’s father-daughter duo of Bhagwan and Reema Bhoge, NCP’s Gokul Pingle and Dinkar Adhav, Sadashiv Mali, CPM’s Vasudha Karad and many others.
Some law and order trouble was reported during or after the counting in the city. A riot case was filed at Bhadrakali police station when opponents came face to face and pelted stones and at each other in Bagwanpura area. The police intervened and controlled the situation. Small incidents of slogan shouting and abusing were reported in Pandit Colony, Nashik Road, Satpur, Cidco and some other places.
Recounting was sought in two wards -- 31 and 21 -- but did not alter the results.
Tally so far
Declared 114/ 122
MNS – 40
NCP- 20
Cong – 15
Shiv Sena – 19
BJP – 11
RPI – 3
Janrajya Party – 2
CPM – 1
Independents - 3
Comments