Mumbai: Main in eight of 12 Zilla Parishad and 51 of 125 panchayat samiti polls, BJP continues to be the most important social gathering in Maharashtra, exhibiting clearly that the social gathering isn’t just an city phenomenon, but in addition as robust in rural Maharashtra. BJP has made inroads into western Maharashtra in areas like Satara and Solapur, and carried out fairly effectively in Kolhapur at the price of weakened NCP and Congress.

Nevertheless, its alliance companions are usually not far behind. After the tragic demise of former deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a airplane crash two weeks in the past, his NCP has emerged because the second largest social gathering, and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena just isn’t far behind.

“As soon as once more the BJP emerged as the only largest social gathering within the state. In 2017, we had 284 seats, now we have now 410 seats. I wish to thank individuals. They’ve proven religion in us and PM Modi. Even in 2014, 2019, 2024, we carried out effectively within the Meeting (polls). In 2014, we had been known as simply an city and semi-urban social gathering, however that has been debunked and BJP is not any.1 in city, semi-urban and rural (areas),” mentioned Fadnavis.

Talking to the media, NCP chief and minister Aditi Tatkare mentioned, “(Ajit) Dada ought to have been there to see this success. Some locations the place we thought we might win, we didn’t and that was stunning, however win and lose are half and parcel of elections. We have now to simply accept individuals’s mandate. We’ll work tougher the place we misplaced.”

Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has additionally maintained a great strike price. It maintained its lead in Konkan besides Sindhudurg the place the BJP emerged as the most important social gathering. Nevertheless, of the 350 seats it fought, it was main in over 160 seats till 6 pm Monday.

Talking to ThePrint, political analyst Abhay Deshpande mentioned, “BJP has grown on the expense of Congress and NCP. Final time NCP had 5 zilla parishads out of 12, however this time they received solely Pune. BJP had 4 zilla parishads final time, now they’re inching in the direction of profitable eight, and Shinde’s progress is superb as effectively, which implies his progress in rural Maharashtra is super.”

“So far as BJP is anxious, their imports from different events appear to have labored. This helped them develop in rural Maharashtra,” Deshpande added.

One other analyst Sanjay Patil informed ThePrint that BJP ought to see its allies’ efficiency as a warning signal.

“It appears that evidently BJP has been capable of win in rural belt, however the numbers of alliance companions are usually not dangerous both. And it’s a warning bell for the BJP that the alliance companions even have area. So they should suppose, particularly in the event that they wish to go solo in 2029,” Patil mentioned.

“The true combat is between the three ruling events as we noticed in nagar panchayat, company, and zilla parishad polls. So far as Thackeray Shiv Sena is anxious, Uddhav Thackeray has by no means actually sorted the agricultural polls and had left it to native leaders, a distinction to Eknath Shinde. In order that method, Sena UBT numbers are usually not dangerous,” he added.

Out of 731 zilla parishad wards, BJP was main at 225 seats, NCP Ajit Pawar at 172, Shiv Sena at 162, Congress at 55, Sena UBT at 46, NCP SP at 21, and others at 23 till 6 pm Monday.

BJP positive aspects at expense of Congress, divided NCP

In 2017, BJP had received 4 zilla parishads—Latur, Chatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, and Sangli—out of 12.

NCP had received Satara, Pune, Solapur, Parbhani and the Dharashiv zilla parishad. However this time, they may achieve solely in Pune and Kolhapur and put up a good combat in Raigad.

“Folks have given their blessings and tribute to Ajit Pawar’s work. He has labored laborious for grassroot individuals and as we speak’s outcomes are testimony to that,” mentioned MP and NCP state president Sunil Tatkare to the media.

This time BJP is main in Chatrapati Sambhajinagar, Solapur, Satara, Dharashiv, Parbhani and Sindhudurg. Most of their positive aspects got here in on the expense of a weakened Congress and divided NCP.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

---

Additionally learn: BJP’s sweep, increase for Shinde, MVA’s fall—what native physique polls say about energy play in Maharashtra

---