Maharashtra Municipality polls: BJP romp home in Dhule, hung verdict in Ahmednagar

The run-up to the Dhule Municipal Corporation polls was a contentious one with BJP MLA Anil Gote accusing his party of inducting criminals and giving them tickets.

Gote has fielded candidates from his local outfit Loksangram against official BJP candidates. It is only ahead in 1 seat out of 74. 

Gote Sunday said that some people, who he claimed were BJP workers, threw stones at his car on Saturday.

Earlier peaking to DNA, Gote had said that the all criminals from other parties have joined the BJP. "With the rampant induction of criminals in the party, no other party except BJP has criminals. BJP has given them shelter. There's no point working with a party that promotes criminalisation of politics," said Gote. 

Sources said that Gote was not happy with the BJP leadership for sidelining him in the Dhule Municipal Corporation election. He was also against BJP's decision of making irrigation minister Girish Mahajan in-charge of BJP for Dhule Municipal Corporation elections. However as result stands, BJP has comfortably won in Dhule. 

Here's the tally so far: 

Dhule : Total seats - 74

However, the magic figure is 35 and even if BSP and independents support Congress and NCP, they will fall short of the majority mark. 

Hence all attention will be on Sena now and what Uddhav Thackeray decides to do. 

Maharashtra assembly election will be held few months after the Lok Sabha polls. Shiv Sena has already announced that they will go alone for the assembly polls, while BJP is optimistic of getting its ally on board. Will it ultimately manage to do so?  Ahmednagar may just give us some indication. 

Tally so far at 16:00 hours 

Shiv Sena leads on 17

BJP leads on 18

NCP on 21

Congress on 4

As of now there are three possible alliances with the magic figure on 35.  BJP and Sena can come together and achieve this. Cong-NCP can’t make it but BJP and NCP is another possibility. The third is NCP and Sena coming together.

Shripad Chindam, the man who had passed objectionable remarks on Shivaji has won by 2000 votes in Ahmednagar, media reports stated. Official confirmation is awaited. 

He was former deputy mayor. He defeated BJP's Pradip Pardeshi. He was sacked from BJP for the incident. He won the Ahmednagar Municipal corporation seat by 2000 votes.

He won from ward no -9.  Before voting, his brother Shrikant  had gone to the pooling both and done prayed to the EVM!