In Maharashtra council polls, BJP trumps MVA yet again

This is the second victory of the BJP – led by former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis - in 10 days, first being in the Rajya Sabha polls where the party managed to win three seats

The Maharashtra council polls for 10 seats resulted in a nail-biting finish with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yet again trumping over tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) - after the Rajya Sabha polls - by winning five out of ten seats. In what could be an alarming situation for the State government, three MLAs each from Congress and Shiv Sena cross-voted in a secret ballot held on Monday.

The BJP did not miss the opportunity to warn that the results will ensure the beginning of a change and we will not stop until we bringing a people-friendly government in the State.

The BJP did not only win five seats but managed to win 134 votes of MLAs – an increase of 10 votes -  by snatching almost 21 votes more than its actual strength on 113 in the assembly. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which has a strength of 53, won 57 votes of first preference, ensuring support of independents to the party.

This is the second victory of the BJP – led by former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in 10 days, with first being in the Rajya Sabha where the party managed to win three seats. Jubilant State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, along with other party leaders said that it was Mr. Fadnavis’ strategy that helped the party to win five seats. “We won in Rajya Sabha with 123 votes and now we have got 134 votes. I have been telling from day one that MVA MLAs do not trust this government and they will go by their conscience and will vote for us,” he said.

“Discontent against this government is out now. We will continue our struggle and we will only stop when we bring a people friendly government. This is the beginning of change”Devendra FadnavisLeader of Opposition

Mr. Fadnavis said that the BJP’s fifth candidate had zero votes to start with, but we ended up winning more votes than the Congress candidate.  “Discontent against this government is out now. We will continue our struggle and we will only stop when we bring a people-friendly government. This is the beginning of change,” he said.

The list of victors included BJP’s Pravin Darekar, Shrikant Bharatiya, Uma Khapre, Ram Shinde and Prasad Lad. NCP’s Eknath Khadse, Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar; Shiv Sena’s Sachin Ahir and Amshya Padvi and Congress’ Bhai Jagtap. What could be termed as one of the blunders in terms of strategy, Congress despite having 44 votes could not ensure victory of its candidate in the first round as Mr. Handore and Mr. Jagtap won only 22 and 19 votes, respectively. Mr. Jagtap won in the second round while party’s second candidate Chandrakant Handore lost the battle in the second round.