In the wake of the Lok Sabha elections, although the Mahavikas Aghadi showcased an impressive performance, creating troubles for the BJP-led NDA, the recent MLC elections in Maharashtra Assembly have marked a resounding victory for the NDA. The alliance has victoriously secured 9 of the 11 seats, while the MVA coalition lost one of their three. In addition, there are reports of 7 to 8 MLAs from Congress indulging in cross-voting.
BJP Celebrates Winning Five Seats
The counting of votes revealed a promising triumph for the BJP on five seats, while the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the NCP's Ajit Pawar faction each won two. The INDIA alliance witnessed Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress claiming one seat each. Unfortunately, Jayant Patil, who stood with Sharad Pawar's backing, faced defeat. A candidate required the support of 23 legislators to win in the Legislative Council elections. This tally consists of 103 from BJP, 38 from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), 42 from NCP (Ajit faction), 37 from Congress, 15 from Shiv Sena (UBT), and 10 from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).
Source: aajtak
MVA Concedes a Seat
With the results unveiled, NDA's supremacy is evident as they garner support post the victory of all nine candidates from the contested seats. On the flip side, the MVA had to come to terms with losing one out of three. Stars of the elections include BJP's Pankaja Munde and all nine MVA candidates. Meanwhile, Congress's Pragya Satav clinched a win as well. The UBT Sena succeeded in making striking gains, leading to an unexpected defeat for the Sharad Pawar-supported candidate.
Jayant Patil Suffers a Defeat
In the fierce battle for the final seat, Milind Narvekar from the Uddhav Thackeray group overpowered Jayant Patil from the Sharad Pawar faction, supported by the People's Workers and Peasants Party (PWP). Eleven Legislative Council seats were at stake and were contested by twelve hopefuls.
Insight on the Voting Dynamics
Questions arise whether Congress votes were fragmented. Considering the vote tally so far, it seems that about seven Congress votes have been shared. Focusing on the arithmetic, with Congress having 37 legislators, 25 first preference votes went to Pragya Satav. Leaving 12 surplus first preference votes for Congress. Milind Narvekar received 22 first preference votes, including 15 from the Thackeray group. Even with the addition of seven more presumed Congress votes, the mystery of five missing votes lingers. Jayant Patil secured 12 first preference votes, all from the Sharad Pawar group.
Source: aajtak
Other key takeaways from the MLC elections include Uddhav Thackeray's successful last stage candidacy and the BJP’s strategic pick of candidates, showcasing its diverse representation. Eknath Shinde corrected previous oversights by providing opportunities for former disgruntled Shiv Sena MPs Bhavana Gawli and Kripal Tumane. The election aftermath highlights that legislators who sided with Shinde and Ajit Pawar remain loyal post-Lok Sabha outcomes. With assembly elections around the corner, they enjoy the privilege of governing power. However, this simultaneously sends a potent political message about the enduring strength of the Shinde and Pawar factions.
