Maha civic polls: No clear winner in Akola

Akola: No party has won a clear majority in the Akola Municipal Corporation, as the results of yesterday's election came in late on Friday afternoon.

Congress and BJP, with 18 seats each, are the biggest parties in 73-member house.

Party-wise final results are as follows: Congress (18), NCP (5), BJP (18), Shiv Sena (8), BRP-BMS Samyukta Vikas Aghadi (7), UDF (2), Akola Vikas Aghadi (2), Samajawadi Party (1), MNS (1), independents (11).

Suresh Patil of Congress, who was the Mayor of Akola Corporation before it was dissolved because of financial irregularities, had to taste defeat.

Other prominent leaders who lost included Dr Azhar Hussain (Congress), Dr Kishor Malokar (BJP), Mahadeorao Bundele (PWP), etc.

City Congress chief and former Mayor Madan Bhargad won by a margin of only six votes.

The Mayor's post this time is reserved for a scheduled caste woman.

There were five couples in the fray, three of which got elected: Sunil Meshram and his wife Madhuri (independents), Sanjay Badone and his wife (independents) Vijay Agrawal and his wife Sunanda (Akola Vikas Aghadi).