With this win, the saffron party has emerged as the number one choice of voters, dealing a blow to the Congress and the NCP
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the major gainer in the local body elections in Maharashtra, results of which were declared on Monday evening.
With this win, the saffron party has emerged as the number one choice of voters, dealing a blow to the Congress and the NCP, whose campaign centred around issues like demonetization.
The BJP also outmatched its Maharashtra ally, Shiv Sena, which seems to have benefited out of the last-minute decision to go along with the former.
The election—held to 147 municipal councils and 17 nagar panchayats on Sunday—was also a referendum on the Chief Minister. Fadnavis had criss-crossed all the districts in last 15 days, addressing more than 40 public rallies.
The victory in the sub-urban areas is significant for the BJP which was credited with urban vote base. It has also established it as the largest party in the state once again, after taking a lead for the first time in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls two years ago.
Terming the win "overwhelming", an ecstatic CM said: "We won because of the blessings of Shivaji Maharaj and people's faith in us."
Interestingly, BJP state chief Raosaheb Danve and Minister Pankaja Munde could not snatch victories in their home towns of Bhokardan and Parali. Congress leader and former chief minister Narayan Rane, however, was successful in Sindhhudurg, winning the council with absolute majority.
The polls, which were held in the suburban areas across 25 districts, were being considered as an acid test for the BJP post-demonetization. "We were worried as the cash crunch has hit the people, including farmers, hard. However, the results have validated the PM's move," said Madhav Bhandari, a senior BJP leader.
According to political commentator Prakash Bal Joshi, the BJP would have performed better if there was no infighting within the party. He pointed out that some of the party leaders were sulking ever since Fadnavis was chosen for the CM's chair.
The results will also have a bearing on the party's delicate alliance with the Shiv Sena. "While Uddhav Thackeray is now being advised to go in for alliance with the BJP in the upcoming high-profile fight to Mumbai and Thane municipal corporations, there is a possibility that BJP may decide to go solo unless shiv Sena agrees to give it lions share of seats," said an observer.
The NCP, which was the number one party in these municipal councils until now, had to suffer a huge trust deficit. Leader of Opposition in state assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil however tried to put on a brave face. "Despite the setback, the party has increased its vote share," he said.
Modi tweets win
I laud BJP Karyakartas, CM @Dev_Fadnavis & @raosahebdanve. Their grassroot level work ensured people place their valued trust in BJP.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
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