Maharashtra MLC Poll Results: Ruling MVA Coalition Bags 3 Out Of 6 Seats, BJP Wins Only 1

Maharashtra MLC Poll Results - Biennial elections to six legislative council seats - three graduates' and two teachers' as well as one local bodies seat were held on December 1. The BJP has won only the Dhule-Nandurbar local bodies seat.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar during a book launch on the completion of one year of their alliance-led government in the state, in Mumbai, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai In a major blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Maharashtra Legislative Council where polling was held earlier this week, the party has won one out of six seats with the MVA coalition of the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress wining all three seats.  Although the MVA coaltion managed to win all three seats, it woed the voters and toppled the BJP in major graduate constituency seats including Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad. Results of three other seats are yet to be declared, but the MVA candidates are leading in two seats, reports said. The counting to five constituencies – three graduates’ and two teachers’ – commenced on Thursday, and the final results to the graduate seats was declared on Friday. How are parties faring? Out of the six seats in the Legislative Council, the results of three seats have been declared, out of which 2 seats have been won by Congress and NCP candidates, while BJP's Amrish Patel has won from Dhule Nandurbar seat. A major setback for BJP The Nagpur graduate seat has remained a strong constituency of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ family and in the past it has been held by Fadnavis’ father Gangadhar Fadnavis including senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. It seems the BJP has lost in the constituency with the Congress winning the constituency for the first time in more than 58 years. However, the BJP on Thursday won the Dhule, Nandurbar local body by-polls in Maharashtra. BJP candidate Amrish Patel was ahead with a whopping 332 votes against MVA's Abhijit Patil, who managed only 98 votes. Amrishbhai Patel left Congress last year and in this year's bypolls he was in a direct fight against Congress' Abhijit Patil. NCP & Congress ahead in the game Satish Chauhan of NCP from Aurangabad Graduate Constituency and Arun Lad from Pune have won the same. While the victory of Congress's Jayant Ajgaonkar from Pune Teachers seat is also being considered almost certain and Ajgaonkar is leading in Nagpur Graduate Constituency seat. Congress's Abhijeet Vanjari is leading in the counting of votes. Jolt to Shiv Sena In the Legislative Council election, the Shiv Sena was contesting in the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition from Amravati Teachers' seat.  Shiv Sena has fielded Srikant Deshpande its candidate, but the Independent Kiran Sarnaik is seen giving a tough fight to Shiv Sena here. As per experts, it is believed that the Shiv Sena votes were transfered to Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition and the Congress NCP and the same did not happen in Amravati which is considered as the reason behind the Shiv Sena's candidate Shrikant Deshpande trailing numbers. Congress's Abhijeet Vanjari is seen winning the seat, the result is yet to come, but given the growth of Abhijeet Banjari, his victory seems to be certain. On the other hand, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said that the manner in which Maha Vikas Aghadi is seeing success in Nagpur and Pune, it shows that the public trust is on the work of Maha Vikas Aghadi and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Nagpur. And the seat of Pune, which the Congress NCP has never been successful in, is also winning us today, it is telling that people thought differently this time. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said the victory of MVA candidates was an indication of the unity among the alliance constituents. He said it showed that the people of the state have reposed their faith in the government. 'BJP should now support Maha govt in state's development' Maharashtra minister and state NCP chief Jayant Patil said the poll outcome showed that apart from farmers, workers and middle class people, highly-educated voters also support the MVA government. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh also thanked the voters and added that they "bent lofty necks" of rival parties by backing the MVA candidates. "We were humble before the people yesterday, are so today and will always be so. Congratulations to the #MahaVikasAghadi candidates," he tweeted in Marathi.

Deshmukh also said that the opposition parties should now support the government in the state's development. "If it cannot do so, it should at least stop anti- Maharashtra activities #BJP," the minister said. Thanking the voters, NCP MP Supriya Sule congratulated all those who "worked hard" to ensure victory of the MVA candidates.

PWD minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan also hailed the MVA's performance in five of the six constituencies which went to polls. Referring to 'Maharashtra Express', a train service between Kolhapur and Gondia, Chavan tweeted, "In the elections to the five council seats for which people voted directly, the BJP has been routed in around 24 districts from Kolhapur to Gondia. This is the 'Maharashtra Express' of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, reported PTI.