Village poll: Win-win for all

MVA claims it has pocketed 80% villages, BJP says it is single largest party

The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi partners - Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress - have claimed that together, they have outdone the BJP by winning in 80 per cent of the villages in the gram panchayat polls. On the other hand, BJP has hinted that it was down but not out, claiming victory in over 6,000 gram panchayats. Touted as mini assembly elections, the results of the 12,711 gram panchayat polls, held on January 15, were declared on Monday. Polling was held for 1,25,709 seats, for which 2,14,880 candidates were in the fray.

The MVA and the BJP made claims and counterclaims of gains in these elections, in which candidates were allotted election symbols from a list of free symbols.