Not a wave but a tsunami: Fadnavis on civic polls win

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday termed the BJP's victory in the municipal council polls in the state as not just a wave but a tsunami.

"This (victory) is not merely a wave. This is a tsunami," Fadnavis, who joined in the celebrations at the state BJP office in south Mumbai, told reporters.

"The BJP government is one which thinks of the common man," Fadnavis said, adding people have reposed their trust in the BJP-led regime.

"People have shown that BJP is the number one party in Maharashtra. We dedicate this victory to the people of Maharashtra," the Chief Minister said.

"We are governing the state keeping Shivaji Maharaj as our idol," he added.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address campaign meetings ahead of crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections early next year.

With the government introducing direct elections for the post of president in the 147 municipal councils, the BJP won 52 seats, Shiv Sena 23, Congress 19, NCP 16 and others 28.

The BJP has surged ahead in elections for the 3,510 municipal council member seats, held on party lines, in the Congress-NCP bastions, specially in western Maharashtra.

The party-wise tally: BJP (851), Shiv Sena (514), NCP (638), Congress (643), MNS (16), BSP (9), CPM (12), local coalitions (384), Independents (324), unrecognised members (119).

In 2011, the BJP was nowhere in the reckoning in 127 out of 147 municipal councils, with its tally at 298 compared to Congress (771), NCP (916) and Shiv Sena (264).

Results of all 3,705 seats for which polls were held on Sunday, are expected by this evening, an official in the state election commission said.