The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, which includes Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and the BJP, put up a spirited show and rebounded from a disappointing general election result by achieving a significant victory in the MLC polls.
The BJP fielded five candidates, all of whom won.
Shinde’s Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP each named two candidates, and all four were victorious.
Meanwhile, the Opposition-led Maha Vikas Aghadi, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), and NCP (Sharad Pawar), fielded three candidates but managed to secure only one win, with Pradnya Satav of the Congress.
BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis celebrated on X (formerly Twitter) with a brief message, “9/9,” adding a thumbs-up emoji.
Voting took place this morning for a total of 11 seats, with 12 candidates vying for them.
The results were somewhat predictable, given that MLCs are elected indirectly by Assembly lawmakers. A party with 23 MLAs can claim one legislative council seat.
The BJP, with 103 MLAs, was guaranteed four seats and needed 12 additional votes for its fifth candidate. The Shinde Sena, with 37 MLAs, was nine votes short. Ajit Pawar’s NCP, with 39 MLAs, was seven votes short. Collectively, the Mahayuti needed 28 more votes to secure the nine seats it contested.
On the other side, the Congress had 37 MLAs but fielded only one candidate, leaving it with 14 surplus votes intended for its MVA partners. The NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar supported Jayant Patil of the Peasants and Workers Party, but with only 13 MLAs, it was 10 votes short. Mr. Thackeray’s Sena also fielded one candidate but was eight votes short.
The MVA was four votes short of winning all three seats, assuming the Congress’ extra votes were used for its allies.
The crucial votes were those cast by MLAs outside the two main alliances – two each from Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, one CPIM leader, and an independent.
