As Cong MLAs cross-vote, Mahayuti outdoes MVA; Pune’s Tilekar, Gorkhe emerge winners

NCP (Ajit Pawar) seemed to be the biggest beneficiary with two of their candidates receiving an additional five votes. ”We had 40 MLAs of our own besides the support from two independent candidates. However, we received five additional votes. I want to thank those who gave additional votes to our candidates,” said Dy CM Ajit Pawar. Winners from NCP included Shivajirao Gajre and Rajesh Vitekar. The five votes apparently belonged to Congress MLAs as some of them had been regular at NCP meetings.

”I am very happy. This win is bigger than my Lok Sabha victory. A higher power supported us in this election. This is a trailer to the State Assembly election. Our MLAs have shown our opponents their place. I am proud of my MLAs,” said a jubilant Sunil Tatkare, state president of NCP.

Sena (UBT) candidate Milind Narvekar’s victory has apparently been possible because of his proximity to BJP leaders, sources said. Narvekar was fielded by Sena (UBT) on the last day of filing of nominations. From day one, the Sena was claiming that Narvekar would win. Videos of Narvekar shaking hands and interacting with BJP leaders had also gone viral.

MVA’s Jayant Patil of Peasants and Workers Party who was backed by NCP (SP) was the lone candidate who lost. He left the Legislature premises much before results were declared. ”Congress MLAs indulged in cross-voting,” he told ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel. ”BJP has resorted to its old tactics of using money to influence elections and it has succeeded again,” said NCP (SP) spokesperson Vidya Chavan.

Yogesh Tilekar of Pune was the first one to secure the 23 mandatory votes and win the day.

Tilekar, BJP’s OBC face and former BJP MLA from Hadapsar, was elected in 2014 but lost to NCP’s Chetan Tupe in 2019 elections.

BJP candidate Amit Gorkhe who is from Pimpri-Chinchwad also won. Gorkhe, who is perceived as close to Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, is a Matang community leader and runs a clutch of educational institutes in Pimpri-Chinchwad, while generally keeping himself away from BJP’s internal politics in the local unit.

Congress candidate Pradnya Satav, who was re-elected today, is the widow of Congress leader Rajiv Satav, and is known for her proximity to the Gandhi family.

Firebrand BJP leader Pankaja Munde who had recently lost the Beed Lok Sabha seat was also victorious. The Mundes including her cousin Dhananjay Munde and sister Pritam were seen at Vidhan Bhavan celebrating her victory. ”Several supporters have been waiting here since morning for results. It is a happy moment for all of us,” she said. Pankaja Munde has made it to the state legislature after five years.

Another BJP candidate to emerge victorious was Dr Prinay Phuke who, like other party candidates, also secured 26 votes.

The BJP, with a strength of 103 MLAs besides 12 independents and small party MLAs, had fielded five candidates, all of whom received 26 votes. BJP also benefited by cross voting from Congress MLAs. ”Some people (the Opposition) were predicting cross-voting from our side, but we received votes not just from our own MLAs, but from MVA MLAs too,” said Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis after results were declared.

Sena had a strength of 37 MLAs besides 10 independents and two MLAs of Bachchu Kadu’s party, thus giving them the backing of 49 MLAs. Two of its candidates, Bhawana Gawli (25) and Kripal Tumane (24) collectively received 49 votes. Echoing the sentiments of Fadnavis, CM Eknath Shinde said, ”The Opposition’s claim of breaching our ranks has fallen flat. Their wickets have tumbled and they are in pain.”