Will Winning Momentum Persist for BMC? JD(U) Comments on Mahayuti’s Local Poll Victory
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mahayuti alliance shows strong performance in local body polls.
- JD(U) acknowledges growing public trust in the alliance.
- Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi struggles to regain voter confidence.
- BJP leads with 117 municipal president posts.
- Implications for future elections, especially BMC.
Patna, Dec 22 (NationPress) The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), celebrated a significant triumph in the elections for 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra. The Janata Dal (United) characterized the outcome as a “notable achievement”.
In an interview with IANS, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad stated that the results demonstrated an increasing public trust in the Mahayuti alliance. He remarked, “This is a remarkable performance by the Mahayuti alliance. Under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, the Mahayuti has shown a robust presence in the Assembly elections. This winning momentum is anticipated to persist into the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.”
Responding to the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) questioning the results of the Maharashtra local body polls, Prasad remarked that such reactions are typical following an electoral defeat.
He added, “There should be no surprise when such statements are made after a loss. However, if they do not reflect on the reasons behind the declining grassroots support for the Shiv Sena, initially built on Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy and his tenure's accomplishments, then it is a missed chance to grasp the reality.”
The ruling Mahayuti alliance achieved a decisive victory on Sunday, clinching 207 posts of municipal presidents, while the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) managed to secure only 44 posts, marking a substantial setback for them.
This outcome further solidifies the Mahayuti’s authority in the state, following its success in last year’s Assembly elections. Conversely, the opposition MVA once again failed to win back the voters' trust in urban local bodies.
According to the final results from the State Election Commission (SEC) released late Sunday, the BJP emerged as the largest party, winning 117 posts of municipal presidents. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena followed with 53 posts, and the NCP secured 37.
The NCP, a vital part of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, contested 80 municipal council president seats and won 37. Notably, in Pune district, the party claimed 10 out of 17 posts of municipal council and nagar panchayat presidents, as reported by district election officials.
Among the opposition parties, the Congress won 28 posts, while the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) garnered seven, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena managed to secure just nine.
Out of the total 288 seats, elections were held for 286 in two phases on December 2 and December 20, while candidates in two municipal councils were elected unopposed.
Overall, the results underscore the Mahayuti alliance’s stronghold over local body politics in Maharashtra, significantly outpacing the MVA in the pursuit of control over urban local bodies.