BJP makes major gains in State

Huge majority in Nashik as well

It was a day of upsets for top leaders as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sprung a surprise victory and with 63 seats won a huge majority in the 122-member Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC). The BJP victory also threw off predictions of pollsters, who had given a majority to the Shiv Sena.

The Shiv Sena with 34 seats came second followed by Congress with 6 seats, NCP with 6 seats, MNS with 5 seats and 4 independents. Results for 4 seats have not been declared but BJP was reported to be leading on these seats.

Shiv Sena deputy leader ex-MLA Baban Gholap who had secured two tickets for his 2 daughters could not get them elected. A senior Sainik stated that Gholap did not give tickets to loyal activists but tried to run his dynasty even in the NMC (his son Yogesh is a MLA) and so Sainiks cross-voted for the BJP candidates.

Similarly, ex-NCP corporator and ex-Bhujbal supporter Shivaji Chumble who recently joined the Sena and got 2 tickets, by bulldozing loyal Sena leaders, could win only one seat.

This election also saw Muslims openly voting for the Shiv Sena, BJP and independents while rejecting the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Social worker Sayyed Mushir too made a comeback as an independent after a 5year hiatus. He defeated NCP strongman Pathan Haji. After Mushir’s win, some of his supporters were allegedly roughed up in Bagwanpur area.

Meanwhile, stonethrowing was reported on a house of defeated BJP candidate Ganesh More in Old Nashik area.