Maharashtra Legislative Council Elections: Mahayuti scores big win

The Mahayuti (NDA) recorded a thumping and united performance in the Legislative Council elections on Friday by winning all nine candidates. The winners got more votes than expected, indicating cross-voting from the Opposition benches. The new MLCs included five from the Bharatiya Janata Party and two each from Shiv Sena (Shinde) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar). THE MVA had three contestants, but only the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) could win one each, and the third candidate lost.

The contest was between 12 candidates for 11 seats. Members of the Legislative Assembly voted in these elections. A quota of 23 first-preference votes was needed for winning. NDA's eight won in the first round itself. Two MVA candidates, Milind Narvekar, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Jayant Patil (PWP), were locked for the 11th slot. Narvekar had 22 first-preference votes, but the counting shifted to other preferences because of his incomplete quota. Uddhav Thackeray's close associate won as the second-preference votes were counted.

IN PHOTOS: Mahayuti shines in Maharashtra council polls

1 month agoPHOTO GALLERY

Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Milind Narvekar after winning the MLC election. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The voting pattern rekindled memories of the 2022 elections in which the BJP, then in the Opposition, had meticulously planned the distribution of votes. Opposition leader-turned-DCM Devendra Fadnavis worked closely with CM Eknath Shinde and DCM Ajit Pawar to execute the victory ahead of the Assembly elections. Political circles were abuzz with talks of cross-voting by at least seven Congress MLAs. In 2022, the Congress's first-choice candidate was beaten, but the extra one was elected. This time, it played safe by fielding only one candidate and promising extra votes to the MVA partners.

The voting pattern established that the Ajit Pawar and Shinde factions managed to keep their voters intact. In fact, Ajit's party ended up getting five votes more than its strength in the house. The BJP's five candidates together polled about 130 votes, exceeding the total gain. The BJP's additional votes came from associates such as independents, small parties, and others.

CM and DCM along with NDA candidates after the result outside Vidhan Bhavan. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

From BJP, ex-minister Pankaja Munde returned to the legislature, this time to the Upper House, after five years. She lost the 2019 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Ex-junior ministers Paninay Phuke and Sadabhau Khot also made a comeback in the House of Elders. Yogesh Tilekar and Amit Gorkhe emerged as first-time winners. Khot completed his quota with the second-preference votes.

With wins on Friday, Shinde Sena's Bhavana Gawali and Krupal Tumane were rehabilitated after being denied the Lok Sabha seats. Both were Lok Sabha MPs before the 2024 elections. Gawali was the party's senior-most member, yet was dropped from Yavatmal-Washim. Tumane was replaced in the Ramtek segment.

NCP (Ajit Pawar) got Rajesh Vitekar and Shivajirao Garje elected. Congress successfully repeated Dr Pradnya Satav. Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Milind Narvekar (22 first-preference votes) won in the second-preference counting, leaving Jayant Patil far behind. Narvekar's late entry had made the elections interesting. Instead of putting up its candidate, NCP (Sharad Pawar) supported Patil. Sena (UBT) didn't have adequate strength due to a split two years ago. NCP (SP) was no different. Patil got only 12 first-preference votes. Apart from his party's votes, Narvekar managed extra votes from the Congress and others, enough to get a lead in the first round over Patil. He sealed the win with second-preference votes.

Speaking after the victory, Ajit Pawar said the elections had proved the rumours wrong. "They said our MLAs will cross-vote. We are 42, and we got 47, which is five more. I thank those who gave us additional votes and our own MLAs who remained united," he said, adding that the Mahayuti will continue to be together in the October Assembly elections.

CM Shinde told the House that the three parties worked properly and the MVA kept fighting. "We decided that we must win all seats. We worked in that direction. In the MVA, they thought about who to beat among themselves," the CM added.

DCM Devendra Fadnavis said, "When we decided to contest nine vacancies under CM Shinde's leadership, some people made claims that they would beat some of our candidates. But, today's result has proved that we got not only our votes but also the MVA's votes. I thank all our voters, and I strongly feel that this is the beginning that will win us the Assembly election under the leadership of Modi-ji. We will win again," he said.

State Congress president Nana Patole said the cross voters have been identified and their names sent to the high command. "The punishment will such that nobody will dare betray the party in the future. Some leaders had quit the Congress, and with them some MLAs had also shifted their loyalties," he added.

He said these elections will have no bearing on the Assembly elections.

Two
No. of seats won by MVA