The BJP-led Mahayuti will remain in the saddle as Kong and allies stagger at 50 – ThePrint – PTIFeed

Mumbai, Nov 23 (PTI) The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on track to retain power in Maharashtra, having won nine seats so far and was leading in 217 of the 288 assembly seats, according to the latest assembly counting process data. Elections November 20.

With confidence in the polls, the focus has now shifted to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of his party’s stunning victory. Political circles are abuzz with reports that the state’s second Brahmin to become CM will occupy the post for the third time.

In the MVA, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading with 11 seats, Congress with 20 and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) with 19 seats.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi suffered a crushing defeat with its candidates winning just 50 seats, a far cry from the boast – until this morning – of many of its senior leaders that the unity would defeat Mahayuti.

The winners include the BJP’s Kalidas Kolambkar, who defeated the Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Shraddha Jadhav by 24,973 in Wadala constituency after 16 rounds to become a legislator for the ninth time in a row.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective constituencies.

Senior Congress leaders Nana Patole, Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat were trailing in their respective constituencies.

Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah called Fadnavis and congratulated him on the party’s impressive performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Sources close to Fadnavis told PTI that Shah called him and congratulated him on the party’s good performance in the elections.

Sarita Fadnavis, mother of Devendra Fadnavis, also expressed happiness with Mahayuti’s performance.

“I never believed in any rumors and knew that he (Devendra) would do good. The party’s success can be attributed to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahina scheme and Devedra’s efforts and popularity… He is very smart, savvy and courageous and this has brought him such success,” she said.

At Ladki Bahin Yojana, she said, “I don’t have a daughter, but thanks to this scheme, I now have so many daughters and their good wishes.” BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde told reporters, “Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have worked together and gained the trust of the people. Sharad Pawar broke the natural alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP. Balasaheb Thackeray’s voters were angry about this.” “Every day, someone from Bhandup was polluting the politics of the state,” he said, without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who is a resident of the area.

Counting of votes for the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am on Saturday with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance (MVA).

The final turnout for the November 20 election was 66.05 percent, down from 61.1 percent in 2019.

In Mahayuti, the BJP contested 149 seats, the Shiv Sena 81 and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, the Shiv Sena (UBT) 95 and the NCP (SP) 86 candidates.

The following is the party position in the outgoing assembly: BJP 105, Shiv Sena 41, NCP 40, Congress 45, Shiv Sena (UBT) 15, NCP (SP) 12, BVA 3, Samajwadi Party 2, AIMIM 2, Prahar Janshakti Party 2. MNS 1, KFM 1, PRP 1, Swabhimani Paks 1, Rashtriya Samaj Paks 1, Jan Surajya Shakti 1, Krantikari Shetkari Paks 1 and Independent 13. PTI ND MR PR KK NP VT

This report is automatically generated by PTI News Desk. ThePrint is not responsible for its content.