The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra secured a decisive victory in elections to 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hailing the results as a promising "trailer" for the crucial municipal corporation polls scheduled for January 15.
A Comfortable Lead for the Ruling Alliance
Counting for the elections to president and member posts began at 10 am on Sunday. Early trends quickly established a comfortable lead for the Mahayuti coalition, which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Ajit Pawar, and the Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde's leadership.
Celebrating the performance, CM Devendra Fadnavis took to social media platform X to rally party workers. "This victory is just a trailer of what we will see in the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections," he stated. He urged every party worker to intensify their efforts to secure greater victories in the future.
Shinde Lauds Sena's 'Strike Rate' and Takes Dig at Opposition
Addressing a press conference during the vote count, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde praised his Shiv Sena's high "strike rate," indicating that the party won most of the seats it contested. He asserted that the results reflected the public's preference for development-oriented politics over mere politicking.
Shinde revealed that the Mahayuti alliance had crossed the 200-mark in the polls to 286 local bodies. He used a cricketing analogy, stating that while the BJP had "scored a century," the Shiv Sena had achieved a "half-century," emerging as the second-largest party in the state. He emphasized the party's reach beyond its traditional bastions of Mumbai and Thane, claiming it has connected with every household across Maharashtra.
In a clear dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde claimed the voters had sidelined those who remained inactive. He stated that the electorate had clearly identified which faction represents the "real" Shiv Sena, one that follows the ideology of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray. "The electorate rejects leaders who disconnect from the people," Shinde remarked, describing the outcome as a lesson for those engaged in opportunistic politics.
Confidence for Upcoming Civic Polls
Both leaders expressed strong confidence that the Mahayuti's performance in these local body elections will be replicated in the upcoming elections for larger municipal corporations. Shinde dismissed any potential impact of the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, asserting that voters ultimately support those who deliver tangible work.
He also extended gratitude to women beneficiaries of the government's "Ladki Bahin" scheme and to the countless party workers whose efforts contributed to the alliance's success. The Mahayuti's strong showing is seen as a significant morale booster for the coalition as it prepares for the high-stakes battles in the state's major urban civic bodies.
