The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance secured a commanding victory in the recently concluded local body elections across Maharashtra, cementing its political dominance in the state. The alliance emerged as the single largest force, capturing a significant share of councillor seats and municipal council presidencies.
A Record-Breaking Performance
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the results on Sunday, highlighting the alliance's unprecedented success. He stated that candidates elected on the BJP symbol alone accounted for 48 per cent of the total councillor seats, a figure he described as a record. Furthermore, the BJP saw over 3,300 of its candidates elected as councillors.
The most striking achievement was in the presidency of municipal councils. Fadnavis revealed that BJP candidates were elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. Overall, nominees from the broader Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, won the top post in 75 per cent of the local bodies that went to polls.
Leaders Hail Victory, Cite Development Agenda
Fadnavis attributed the sweeping win to a cohesive team effort between the party organisation and the government. "We fought the polls on the development plank. I led a positive campaign on the development agenda," he said, adding that he focused on the government's work and future plans rather than criticising opponents.
BJP state president Ravindra Chavan termed the outcome a "decisive mandate" and claimed the Mahayuti had won more than 250 councils, nagar parishads, and nagar panchayats. He took aim at the opposition, quoting Uddhav Thackeray and predicting a similar rejection in the upcoming Mumbai civic polls. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari celebrated the "overwhelming success" as a victory for the party workers.
Opposition Cries Foul, Alleges Irregularities
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), conceded defeat but levelled serious allegations. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal insinuated that the state election commission had "helped" the ruling alliance.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders were more direct in their accusations. MP Sanjay Raut claimed the victory was a result of EVM tampering, while his colleague Ambadas Danve alleged that "money and muscle power" deployed by the ruling parties shaped the outcome. Danve stated that the Mahayuti's superior seat count was directly thanks to these tactics.
Despite the Mahayuti's broad dominance, the opposition managed to hold ground in specific regions. The Congress and NCP retained control in areas like Chandrapur, Sangli, and Loha. The Shiv Sena (UBT) won in Palghar, and the Marathwada Janhit Party secured victories in Nanded. In a closely watched result, a recount was ordered in the Kamptee municipal council after the BJP won by a narrow margin of just 116 votes.
The elections, conducted in two phases, covered 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The results are seen as a significant morale booster for the Mahayuti alliance ahead of other crucial electoral battles in the state.
