Refusing to admit the BJP’s success in rural and semi-rural areas in the municipal council and Nagar panchayat polls in Maharashtra, Congress and NCP leaders on Thursday said the number of seats won by the combined Opposition (Congress-NCP) was more than that of the ruling party.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said the Congress had done exceedingly well in Vidarbha while NCP was the leading party in Marathwada. “BJP’s top leaders in the state come from these regions and the Opposition Congress-NCP have done well,” he said. Mr Malik further said, “If figures show the BJP as the single largest party, the combined opposition strength of the Congress and the NCP is more than that of BJP and Sena. This speaks volumes about what people think of the performance of the Congress-NCP.”
On the other hand, the Congress said BJP won more seats as it is in power. “In rural and semi-rural areas, the BJP was not ever close to the Congress. However, now there is not much difference in the tally with a difference of about 25 to 30 seats. The inroads made by the BJP in these areas is surprising. The reason can be that the BJP is the single largest party in the Legislative Assembly and leads the government,” Congress spokesperson Ratnakar Mahajan said.
“The general trend is to support the party in power. Another reason can be that the organisation of secular parties is not as strong to garner votes,” he added.
As per the State Election Commission, BJP has won 254 seats, Congress 239, NCP 201, Shiv Sena 126 out of the 1,024 seats for 71 municipal councils and Nagar panchayats which went to polls on November 1. However, the Congress said it has won 245 seats, BJP 241, Shiv Sena 108 and NCP 194.
Mr Mahajan said the BJP’s inroads in rural and semi-rural Maharashtra would be discussed in the Congress meeting to analyse the results and prepare for the next round of local body elections. Mr Mahajan also said Sena’s success in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation showed it was still influential in Mumbai-Thane belt.
