BJP BAGS MAHA COUNCIL BYPOLL, CONGRESS HIT BY ‘CROSSVOTING’

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president and industrialist Prasad Lad defeated Congress’ Dilip Mane to win the by-election to the legislative council with 209 votes on Thursday.

Mane won 73 votes of the 284 votes polled. At least 9 Opposition MLAS reportedly crossvoted, as the expected number of votes was more than 85. Significantly, BJP candidate got 146 votes, apart from Sena’s 63 in the 288-member Assembly.

The feat does not only mean a victory to the BJP, but also proves its claim of support from “invisible hands” to keep the government afloat without the assistance of Sena MLAS.

The BJP secured 146 votes, which is more than the halfway mark required to prove a majority in case of a no-confidence motion against the government.

By winning the seat, which was earlier with the Congress, the BJP has taken a step ahead in its aim of gaining majority in the upper house. The number of BJP members in the legislative council has reached 18, against the NCP’S 23, followed by Congress (19). By winning a maximum of 21 seats falling vacant in JuneJuly next year, with the help of majority in legislative Assembly and the local bodies, whose members elect the members to the council, the ruling party is set target to achieve a majority.

Prasad Lad said it was the result of CM Devendra Fadnavis’s magical skills. “At least 15 members from the Opposition voted for me.” The seat was vacated by former Congress leader Narayan Rane, who resigned from the party and the upper house in September.