In a decisive verdict for the ruling alliance, the Mahayuti coalition has secured a commanding lead in the recent urban local body elections across Maharashtra. State BJP president Ravindra Chavan, addressing the media at the party headquarters in Mumbai on Sunday, attributed this sweeping success to the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Decisive Mandate for the Ruling Alliance
With the counting of votes still in progress, the Mahayuti alliance—comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction)—is leading in a staggering 236 out of the 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats that went to polls. The celebrations had already begun at the party office, with workers dancing to drum beats, reflecting the mood of a major triumph.
Ravindra Chavan provided a detailed breakdown, stating that the BJP alone is projected to secure between 122 to 134 local bodies. In terms of individual councilor seats, he estimated the party's tally would be close to 3,000. "The results are an outcome of Maharashtra Bhushan CM Devendra Fadnavis’s political vision, hard work, and commitment to the development of people," Chavan asserted, handing the chief minister the lion's share of the credit for steering the alliance to victory.
Grassroots Strength and Rejection of "Fake Narratives"
Chavan also extended appreciation to the entire state cabinet and the party's massive grassroots network. He highlighted the role of the BJP's 1.6 lakh booth workers whose tireless efforts strengthened the party's organization on the ground. The state chief recalled Union Home Minister Amit Shah's consistent emphasis on aiming for a 51 per cent vote share to ensure victories at every level of governance, from parliament to panchayats.
In a sharp critique of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Chavan thanked the electorate for not falling prey to what he termed "fake narratives." He specifically mentioned the 'vote chori' (vote theft) allegation that was propagated by the MVA during the campaign. "In the Lok Sabha polls, the people were misled by the MVA with an 'anti-Constitution' narrative. The Opposition tried to create the 'vote chori' and other fake narratives in the local body polls. But people have shown them their place by rejecting their false campaign," Chavan stated.
A Foundation of Trust and Unopposed Wins
The BJP leader pointed to the strong foundation of public trust, evidenced even before voting commenced. He revealed that 100 BJP councillors had already won their seats unopposed before the polling date of December 2. This, according to him, was an early indicator of the public's faith in the BJP and the Mahayuti government's development agenda.
The resounding performance in these local body elections is being viewed as a significant political barometer. It reinforces the position of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis within the state's ruling coalition and demonstrates the BJP's continued organizational dominance in Maharashtra's grassroots political landscape, setting the stage for future electoral contests.
