Maharashtra Gram Panchayat election: BJP claims clear lead, win for ruling coalition, MVA dubs claims ‘false’
The Hindu
Results proof of faith of rural populace in Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena-BJP govt., says Fadnavis
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed to have emerged on top in the results to 7,135 Gram Panchayats spread across 34 districts of Maharashtra on Tuesday.
While Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that the ruling coalition of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the BJP had trounced the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance (of the Nationalist Congress Party, the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction), the MVA leaders charged Mr. Fadnavis with making “false claims”.
Sources said that of the results declared to 6,100-odd GPs (of the total 7,135), the BJP had taken a clear lead. According to rough estimates, the BJP’s sarpanch candidates claimed victory in over 2,000 GPs, with the Congress supposed to have been leading on 800 GPs.
However, the NCP is likely to finish a creditable second, leading in over 1,400 GPs.
In the divided Shiv Sena, the Shinde-led faction was leading in nearly 800 GPs while Mr. Thackeray’s camp was winning in over 660 GPs.
However, given that GP elections are not fought on any party symbol, it is unclear whether the ruling coalition was leading. Other sources said the contest was an evenly matched one, with both the Shinde-Fadnavis coalition and the MVA alliance winning 2,800 sarpach seats respectively.
“The results are proof that the rural populace has shown full confidence in the Eknath Shinde-led ‘Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’ -BJP government,” said Mr. Fadnavis, speaking in the Legislature premises in Nagpur with Mr. Shinde by his side.