The victory of BJP candidates in legislative council elections in Maharashtra’s Nagpur and Akola is a big jolt to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, especially the Shiv Sena as the party lost Akola-Washim-Buldana legislative council seat after more than two decades. What is worse is the fact that Sena candidate Gopikisan Bajoria was a three-term MLC and party chief whip in the legislative council.
Elections to six legislative councils were held recently in Maharashtra. Out of six, four seats were elected unopposed. Two of them went in favour of the BJP while one each was retained by the Congress and Shiv Sena. Polling was held for Nagpur and Akola-Washim-Buldana seats last week. This was a keenly-watched contest as MVA leaders had claimed that alliance of three parties--Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress--will easily defeat the BJP. That, however, did not happen and former minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule won from Nagpur and Vasant Khandelwal, both BJP candidates, won from Akola-Washim-Buldana seat.
To defeat Bavankule, a prominent face of OBCs in the BJP, the Congress had roped in disgruntled BJP leader Dr Chhotu Bhoyar. Bhoyar, a BJP corporator in Nagpur municipal council has had long-time relations with RSS Parivar and the BJP dating back to the days of his grandfather. However, he quit the BJP and joined the Congress which gave him a ticket for the legislative council. Surprisingly, just a couple of days before polling, the Congress ditched Bhoyar and announced support to an independent candidate. As results were declared on Tuesday, it became clear that Bavankule managed to secure a very comfortable victory.
ALSO READ
- Rift in INDIA bloc and MVA: Why Shiv Sena (UBT) decided to contest local bodies polls alone
- Underground museum, AR, digital mapping...: How Bal Thackeray's memorial will honour the Shiv Sena founder's legacy
- Baba Siddique murder: Son Zeeshan doubts Mumbai police’s probe, to meet CM Fadnavis over SIT’s inaction
- Eknath Shinde makes 'chameleon' remarks after Aaditya Thackeray meets CM Devendra Fadnavis for the third time
The contest in Akola-Washim-Buldana was even tougher for the BJP as its candidate Vasant Khandelwal was pitted against three-term MLC Gopikisan Bajoria. Till BJP-Shiv Sena alliance was intact, Bajoria and Khandelwal were considered to be very close to each other as both belonged to the Marwari community. This election saw them contesting against each other.
Bajoria was confident of a victory, unaware that Khandelwal was closing in and a section of MVA leaders was working against him. The BJP managed to win over 80 votes of MVA and ensured that Khandelwal emerges victorious in Akola-Washim-Buldana .
Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that victory of the BJP in both constituencies is a sign that just because three parties are together in power that does not automatically mean that the BJP will be defeated. "I am overjoyed and feel happier than my own victory in assembly elections," said Fadnavis.
On the other hand, MVA leaders have alleged that the BJP managed to win both seats because of horse trading.
