BJP gets even with Shiv Sena

Shines in Mumbai; wins 8 of 10 civic bodies

SHRUTI GANAPATYE | DC The BJP has risen to the top in the state’s urban local bodies by gaining control of eight out of 10 municipal corporations. The party also gained 82 seats in the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), giving neck-and-neck competition to former ally Shiv Sena, which has managed to bag 84 seats. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ leadership has been credited for the gains the BJP has made in all elections in the last two years.

Though pundits were predicting that demonetisation would affect the BJP, the party has not only retained Nagpur, where it won 91 seats till late evening in the 151 member House, and Akola, but also gained control of the Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Amravati, Ulhasnagar municipal corporations.

To the surprise of many, the BJP has wrested Pune and Ulhasnagar from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Nashik from the Maharashtra MUMBAI, FEB. 23 Navnirman Sena (MNS). For the first time, the BJP has gained control of the Solapur civic body also.

Former Congress mayor and Opposition Leader in the outgoing Nagpur civic body, Vikas Thakre was a prominent loser while first timer Bunty Shelke of Congress humbled former standing committee chief Bandu Raut.

“The biggest opponents for Congress in civic polls held across the state, were not BJP or Shiv Sena but a certain unscrupulous Congress leader. A complete washout of the Congress from civic bodies on Thursday pains a hardcore Congressman in me, but what shames me is that this was done purposely,” said former Congress minister Nitin Raut in a statement.

Shiv Sena gained Mumbai and Thane corporations. The Congress and NCP’s drubbing continued in the urban bodies, as both parties performed poorly in the polls.

NCP’s shocking defeat in its stronghold of PimpriChinchwad, where the BJP gained 49 seats, will see followers questioning the leadership of Ajit Pawar whose party was restricted to 28.

State BJP president Raosaheb Danve credited the party’s success to voters and the leadership of CM Devendra Fadnavis.