In a significant political development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday declared the constituencies of Ramtek and Saoner as "Congress-mukt" following the Bharatiya Janata Party's emphatic performance in the state's recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections. The announcement came during a celebratory address to party workers in Nagpur.
An Unprecedented Mandate for BJP
Addressing a gathering that included senior leaders, district functionaries, and party workers, CM Fadnavis congratulated the BJP unit for what he termed a "historic mandate." He revealed that the party lost only two councils—Mohpa and Katol—in the region, framing the outcome as a massive victory and a clear reflection of voter confidence in the BJP's governance.
Placing the Nagpur results within a broader statewide context, Fadnavis stated that the ruling Mahayuti alliance comprehensively outperformed the opposition. He provided compelling figures to underscore the dominance. "In Maharashtra, Mahayuti secured 75 presidents' posts. Of the total 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in all, BJP won 210. This makes one thing clear — BJP is number one in Maharashtra," the Chief Minister asserted.
Record-Breaking Numbers and Organizational Strength
Fadnavis highlighted that the party's strike rate stood at an impressive around 65% in the seats it contested directly, a feat achieved despite the presence of six major political parties and several independents in the fray. He emphasized the scale of the victory by comparing historical data on local body representation.
"In 2016, BJP had around 1,500 nagar sevaks. Today, that number has crossed 3,000. This is a record of the last 30 years," Fadnavis declared, describing the verdict as a strong endorsement of the government's work at both the state and central levels.
Credit to Leadership and Future Roadmap
The Chief Minister attributed the sweeping mandate to public approval of governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the PM's initiatives were receiving a strong response on the ground. "In 18 to 19 councils, we have a clear majority. This is a big mandate for the BJP-led Mahayuti," he said, claiming that several opposition leaders were left "politically devastated" as their traditional bastions fell.
Highlighting specific district-level outcomes, Fadnavis noted that the BJP captured almost all major councils, with Katol being a notable exception. He pointed out a landmark achievement: "Kamptee elected a BJP president for the first time, creating a new record." He credited the organizational push led by the state BJP leadership for consolidating gains after the 2024 assembly polls.
Looking ahead, Fadnavis outlined the party's responsibility towards development. "These 27 councils are our responsibility. We will develop 22 of them as model cities. The message from the PM is clear — we need qualitative change," he stated. He cautioned against complacency, adding, "This victory will reflect in the municipal corporation and zilla parishad elections. It will not go to our heads. We have to become more people-friendly."
Concluding his address, Fadnavis thanked the party workers, calling them the "real and deserving winners" and stating that the mandate was a direct result of their relentless hard work. The event was attended by prominent figures including guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, legislators Ashish Deshmukh, Sameer Meghe, and Charansingh Thakur, along with senior party leaders.
