Shiv Sena gains, BJP wins two MLC seats

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena emerged the biggest winner the Maharashtra Legislative Council biennial polls even as the BJP tried to ensure its defeat by supporting NCP candidates. The results for five MLC seats were declared on Thursday, out of which the Sena won two of the three seats it contested.

Counting of votes was held Thursday for five of the six local bodies seats where biennial elections to the Council were held on Monday. The Shiv Sena won the Nashik and Parbhani-Hingoli local bodies seats.

Minister and BJP leader Pravin Pote retained the Amravati local bodies seat. “I thank all the voters for reposing their faith in me. It is a vote to the BJP leadership in the state and at the Centre,” he said soon after the result was announced. Apart from Amravati, the BJP also bagged the Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli local bodies’ seat. Both the seats have been retained by the BJP, while both Shiv Sena seats are its gain.

The ruling BJP and the Shiv Sena had contested the polls in an alliance. The Congress and the NCP had also tied-up for the biennial polls. However, according to sources, the BJP had supported the NCP candidates in Nashik and Konkan in order to defeat Sena, which has been at loggerheads with the state and Union governments on several issues.

The BJP had supported NCP candidate Aniket Tatkare who won in the Konkan constituency. He is the son of former minister Sunil Tatkare against whom chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had levelled allegations of corruption when in the BJP was in the opposition. The counting for the Beed constituency has been postponed because of a case pending before the Bombay high court.

According to sources, the BJP wanted to settle scores with Shiv Sena for fielding late BJP MP Chintaman Vanaga’s son in Palghar Lok Sabha by-poll against the BJP candidate. However, BJP’s tactics did not work in Nashik where the Shiv Sena candidate Narendra Darade got 412 votes against all odds. He defeated NCP’s Shivaji Sahane by 200 votes. Later, Mr Darade claimed that his victory became possible because of “blessings” of NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal.

Shiv Sena candidate Viplav Bajoria secured 256 votes and won by 35 votes from Parbhani-Hingoli constituency.

In Konkan constituency, Aniket Tatkare of NCP got 620 votes and defeated Rajiv Sable of Shiv Sena who got 306 votes. Mr Tatkare was helped by BJP MP Narayan Rane. However, sources said that Mr Tatkare would have won even without Mr Rane’s support.

Reacting to results, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “I thank everyone who voted for us. In Konkan, BJP’s votes went to NCP. Whether it was BJP's official decision, or whether their MP acted against the party is the topic for the BJP to ponder upon.”