BJP sweeps Maharashtra civic polls, neck-to-neck with Shiv Sena in Mumbai; NCP, Congress lose big

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday scored a resounding victory in Maharashtra civic polls by bagging eight of the ten municipalities and made giant strides in the Shiv Sena citadel of Mumbai, where it won 82 seats in the fiercely fought Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

BMC poll results

While the Shiv Sena emerged on the top with 84 seats, the BJP was a close second at 82. Interestingly, Maharashtra BJP president Raosaheb Danve said his party may be able to rule BMC with the support of some independents. Any party or combine will need 114 corporators for a simple majority.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray exuded confidence that the party will retain the coveted Mayor's post, even as he hesitated to give a definitive answer on whether there would be an alliance between his party and BJP.

The Congress was relegated to the third position with 31 seats, whereas the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Raj Thackeray's MNS were reduced to 9 and 7 seats, respectively.

AIMIM, which had made its maiden entry into the Maharashtra Assembly with two seats in the last polls, won three seats on debut in the BMC elections, Samajwadi Party six, Akhil Bhartiya Sena one and Independents four.

Across Maharashtra, BJP the big winner

The BJP made major gains by bagging eight of the other nine municipalities.

Pune

BJP captured NCP's Pune bastion, winning a comfortable majority and coming to power in the city for the first time.

The saffron party won 98 out of 162 seats in the Pune Municipal Corporation, dislodging NCP which was in power in the city since 2007.

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation

The contest was close in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation near Pune, but later the BJP zoomed ahead with 78 seats in the 128-member house, humbling the ruling NCP, which only secured 35 seats. The Shiv Sena got nine, the MNS got one and others got the rest.

Nagpur

Nagpur went the BJP way with the party bagging 91 of the civic body's 151 seats. The Congress got 23, and the NCP bagged one seat.

Nashik

BJP secured simple majority in the Nashik Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra by winning 66 out of the 122 seats. MNS, which controlled the municipal corporation, faced a debacle, as it could win only five seats this time.

Shiv Sena retains Thane

Thane blocked the BJP bulldozer where the Shiv Sena bagged 67 out of 131 seats, followed by NCP with 34, BJP 23 and Congress three.

Ulhasnagar

The BJP grabbed 32 seats and Shiv Sena 25 of the total 78 seats. The NCP got four, Congress got one and independents and others grabbed 16 seats.

Amravati

The BJP captured Amravati with 42 out of 87 seats, followed by the Congress with 16 seats, AIMIM 10, Shiv Sena nine, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party five.

Yuva Swabhiman Party won three seats on its debut. RPI(A) won one seat while Dinesh Boob, an independent, won in one of the wards.

Solapur

In Solapur Municipal Corporation, a Congress bastion, the BJP captured 49 out of 102 seats, followed by Shiv Sena in 21, the Congress in 14, the AIMIM scoring nine, the NCP and the BSP scoring four each, while the Communist Party of India bagged one seat.

Akola

BJP scored 48 out of 80 seats with Congress trailing at 13. The Shiv Sena bagged eight, the NCP got five and others got six seats.

25 zilla parishads

BJP led the tally, winning 397 of the 1,509 seats for which polls were held. It was followed by NCP 336, Congress 293 and Shiv Sena 259. MNS got one and others 147. Results of 76 seats still awaited.

2,990 Panchayat Samiti seats

BJP got the lion's share, winning 803, while NCP got 630, Congress 555 and Sena 538. MNS pocketed just two and others 281 seats. Results of the 181 seats still awaited.

A great start to BJP in 2017: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Maharashtra for reposing their faith in the "politics of development" and "good governance".

"Through hard work, determination and work on the ground, BJP is now a strong force both in urban and rural Maharashtra. BJP is unwavering in the resolve to serve Maharashtra with unparalleled diligence, transparency and taking the state to even greater heights. Congrats to Karyakartas," Modi tweeted his delight over the outcome.

He said it has been a great start to BJP in 2017, starting with the unprecedented support in Odisha and now the overwhelming blessings from the people of Maharashtra.

"Extremely thankful to the sisters & brothers of Maharashtra for reposing their faith in BJP & in politics of development & good governance," Modi said.

BJP's win in civic polls a mandate on transparency: Fadnavis

As it put up a sterling performance in civic polls across Maharashtra including the cash-rich BMC, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said BJP's victory resulted from a vote for transparency and demonetisation.

A jubilant Fadnavis, who spearheaded BJP's poll campaign, said the party's core committee will decide the future course of action in BMC.

Shiv Sena will retain Mayor's post: Uddhav

As uncertainty loomed large in the BMC polls due to a hung house, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray exuded confidence that the party will retain the coveted Mayor's post, even as he hesitated to give a definitive answer on whether there would be an alliance.

As the results of the civic polls trickled in, Sena was at the top after winning 84 seats in the 227-member BMC, while its estranged ally BJP was close behind at 82.

"What is the hurry? Wait for some time. We have not yet decided if an alliance is to be made or not. We will do so soon," Thackeray said at a press conference.

"But I can assure that not only the Mayor, even the future Chief Minister will be from the Sena," he said.

Civic poll results a setback: Congress

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) conceded that the results so far for the ten municipal corporations, 25 Zilla Parishads and 283 Panchayat Samitis across the state have signalled a setback for the party.

Taking moral responsibility for Congress' poor performance in the BMC polls, party's city unit chief Sanjay Nirupam today offered to resign from his post.

Talking to reporters, Nirupam launched a broadside against party leaders in the city who, he said, wished that the Congress lose the elections.

"In their aim to defeat me, they caused immense harm to the party," he said in an apparent reference to AICC general secretary Gurudas Kamat.

Nirupam said he has spoken to the party's central leadership and offered to resign for the poor show in the civic polls.

(With PTI/IANS inputs)