In the local body elections in the state of Maharashtra, the Mahayuti alliance consisting of the Bharatiya Janata Party won overwhelmingly. The opposition political parties raised some concerns regarding the legitimacy and fairness of the election process. The ruling group has however applauded the election outcome as an affirmation of their governance to focus on development.
The Mahayuti which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party, won 207 of the 288 municipal president posts. In contrast, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on the other hand, managed just 44, which indicates the organization superiority of the ruling side.
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Within the alliance, the BJP emerged as the single largest force, securing 117 municipal president posts and more than 3,300 councillor seats, nearly 48% of all councillors elected. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the performance as record-breaking, pointing out that the party has more than doubled its councillor tally compared to the 2017 local body elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the verdict reflected people’s trust in “people-centric development,” while Mahayuti leaders stressed that their campaign focused on governance, infrastructure, and urban development rather than political attacks.
The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) acknowledged the electoral setback but raised concerns over the conduct of the polls. Maharashtra Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal alleged that the elections were not conducted in a free and fair manner, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders pointed to the alleged use of money power and irregularities, claims strongly rejected by the ruling alliance.
Regional patterns and alliance dynamics
In Konkan, Marathwada, north Maharashtra, and western Maharashtra, the Mahayuti performed admirably. However, the Congress made significant progress in Vidarbha, especially in the district of Chandrapur.
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The Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar, strengthened its foothold in smaller urban areas by maintaining control in crucial areas like Baramati and Pune district.
The victory has come as a huge morale booster for the Mahayuti alliance in the wake of crucial elections for major municipal corporations such as Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nagpur, political analysts feel. As municipal elections are perceived to reflect the sentiment of the people before Assembly elections, the victory has set the ruling coalition on the right course for the upcoming battle.
