The first polls of the Vasai-Virar municipal corporation held on Sunday saw around 40% turnout and sporadic incidents of violence.
Former MLA Hitendra Thakur proved he continues to hold sway over Vasai region in the neighbouring Thane district as his Bahujan Vikas Aghadi emerged a clear winner, bagging 55 of the 88 seats in the Vasai-Virar municipal corporation elections.
The first polls of the Vasai-Virar municipal corporation held on Sunday saw around 40% turnout and sporadic incidents of violence.
On the other hand, the Lokhitwadi Party, led by MLA Vivek Pandit, who spearheaded the agitation against the inclusion of 53 villages in the civic body, could clinch only 19 seats. Pandit’s party, which could show its influence only in the disputed villages, had to suffer a setback in other areas.
During his agitation, Pandit went on a hunger strike more than three times. During one such hunger strike in February, the police had forcibly taken him to the hospital as his health deteriorated after five days.
Finally, Pandit convinced the state government to exclude 30 of the 53 villages from the municipal corporation.
Pandit alleged that Congress was responsible for his party’s poor show. “The votes were divided due to the Congress candidates and the division directly benefited the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi,” he said.
Thakur, however, rejected the allegation. “The people have voted us to power because they were satisfied with our performance in past three years. Show me a single municipal corporation in the state where the ruling party has a two-third majority. We could have secure three-fourth majority had there not been some technical problems over a few candidates’ election symbol,” he said.
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