‘Double-Engine’ rule performance powers BJP-led Mahayuti’s Maha civic polls sweep

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) Maharashtra’s “double engine” Centre-state leadership seems to have laid the track for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance’s urban sweep in civic body polls, consolidating the bloc’s post‑Assembly election momentum.

The civic elections indicate the state’s ruling alliance remains popular in most parts of the state despite “friendly contests”, challenge from the reunited Thackeray cousins, and Congress’s efforts at revival amidst Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” slogan.

The Mahayuti has established itself across major municipal corporations, eroding space for the Thackeray camp and Congress in key cities. It is set to secure a majority in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), ending the long-standing dominance of the then-undivided Shiv Sena, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party.

Similar scores marked in Pune, Thane, Nashik, among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked the people of Maharashtra in a social media message, posting on X in Marathi: “Thank you, Maharashtra! The enthusiastic people of the state have blessed the NDA’s agenda of public welfare and good governance!”

He added, “The results of various municipal corporation elections show that the bond between the NDA and the people of Maharashtra has become even stronger. The experience of our performance and the vision of development have touched the hearts of the people. I express heartfelt gratitude to all the people of Maharashtra. This mandate will give greater momentum to progress and is a celebration of the glorious culture connected with the state.”

By afternoon, tallies showed the BJP leading in hundreds of wards, while the Eknath Shinde‑led Shiv Sena was also posting strong numbers. In initial trends, the Shiv Sena started strong in Kalyan‑Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Ulhasnagar, with the party leading on several dozen wards in those municipalities.

Meanwhile, in Pune and Pimpri‑Chinchwad, the BJP made notable inroads.

Elections were held for 2,869 seats across 893 wards in the state on Thursday, January 15, where over 1.03 crore voters participated in the civic polls this year, which last took place in 2017 – postponed due to COVID-19, legal hurdles, and delimitation of wards.

Counting took place at 23 designated centres spread across Mumbai amid tight security arrangements and high police deployment. The process was held in each centre under the supervision of an Election Returning Officer.

In the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the alliance consolidated power at the state level, crated a backdrop that framed the municipal contests as a continuity test for the ruling coalition. The civic sweep also builds from an urban tilt, effective local organisation, targeted campaigning on development and civic issues, and a fragmented opposition.

The coming together of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), along with Congress’s efforts at reinventing itself since its Lok Sabha performance earlier failed to translate into comparable ground mobilisation in many wards.

The civic results follow the Mahayuti’s decisive performance in the November 2024 Assembly election, where the BJP won 132 – a gain of 27 seats from 2019 – of the state’s 288 constituencies. Among its allies, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 57 and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), 41, where both parties had split ahead of the Vidhan Sabha poll.

This was in contrast to the April-May Lok Sabha polls, when the BJP suffered a 14-seat deficit from the previous election, winning only nine of the 48 Parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra. The Congress managed to consolidate itself – winning 13 seats – against a single victory in the previous 2019 Lok Sabha poll.

Now the civic sweep strengthens the Mahayuti’s control over urban governance, giving it leverage over municipal budgets, appointments and local delivery. For the opposition, the results have again exposed organisational weaknesses and the need for clearer local narratives.

The outcome also signals that urban voters are rewarding perceived administrative performance and visible civic work, rather than purely identity or regional appeals.

–IANS

jb/uk

Related Posts

Pahalgam terror attack: Three Pakistan nationals, two Kashmiris among 5 terrorists identified

Srinagar, April 24 (IANS) Five terrorists, including three Pakistani nationals and two residents of Jammu and Kashmir have been identified, who carried out the horrific attack near Pahalgam town, as authorities ramped up efforts to nab the perpetrators of the worst terror strike to rock the region in nearly two decades.

The investigation agencies identified named three Pakistani nationals — Asif Fauji (code name Moosa), Suleman Shah (code name Yunus) and Abu Talha (code name Asif), said people aware of developments.

Two other Valley based operatives — Adil Guri, a local from Bijbehara in Anantnag who went to Pakistan in 2018, and Ahsan, a resident of Pulwama who also went to Pakistan in 2018 — were also identified, said the people cited above.

The Kashmiri operatives recently infiltrated into India after getting years of training in Pakistan, but Fauji and Shah were operating in Jammu and Kashmir for some time and were involved in previous attacks as well, including in Poonch, said the investigators.

The terrorists involved in Tuesday’s attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow asked civilians, particularly men, to prove their religion by reciting Islamic prayers or showing physical markers such as circumcision, according to a preliminary investigation by central agencies based on survivors’ testimonies.

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have already released sketches of three suspects and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh each for information on them.

One of the attackers has been identified by central intelligence agencies as Moosa – a code name – who, the officer cited above said, was also most likely involved in the May 2024 attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Poonch.

There is no CCTV camera at any establishment in the close vicinity of the Baisaran meadow, which means investigators are largely relying on information shared by the survivors. It is suspected that the attackers fled to higher ranges of the Pir Panjal after the attack.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team led by Inspector General Vijay Sakhare is stationed in Srinagar to conduct a thorough investigation.

Officials said the federal anti-terror agency has already taken over the probe, with the J&K Police lending assistance.

The role of Saifullah Kasuri, one of the deputies of Lashkar-e-Toiba Chief Hafiz Saeed, is being investigated, officials added.

In a video shared on social media, Kasuri can be seen saying on February 2 this year that “Kashmir will become ‘land of the pure’ by February 2, 2026” and that “in the coming days Mujahideen will intensify their attacks and Kashmir will be freed”.

–IANS

khz/

NCP factions hold parallel rallies on 26th Foundation Day; reject merger talks

Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) On the 26th Foundation Day of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), both factions of the party — one led by NCP (Sharad Pawar) President Sharad Pawar and the other by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar — will hold parallel events in Pune.

While Sharad Pawar will address the party workers at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir in Shivajinagar, Ajit Pawar will host a large gathering at Balewadi Stadium.

The simultaneous events will be marked by displays of strength, as both groups assert their relevance and future direction in Maharashtra’s political landscape.

Ajit Pawar, who parted ways with his uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023 and aligned with the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition, has since taken control of the NCP name and its ‘clock’ symbol following a legal battle.

Despite speculations about a possible reconciliation ahead of the upcoming local and civic body elections, both sides have dismissed any talks of merger or alliance, stressing their distinct plans for political consolidation.

Speaking to IANS, Maharashtra NCP President and MP Sunil Dattatray Tatkare said, “Today is our 26th Foundation Day. We are celebrating not only with joy but with the strong spirit of our secular thought. Really happy to be with the development of the state and the country. As a state President, I am proud that we are a part of this process. So I wish all the success and the best wishes to my party workers across the state and even across the country.”

NCP National Spokesperson and former MP Anand Paranjpe told IANS, “Today, we are celebrating the 26th foundation day of the Nationalist Congress Party with great enthusiasm and joy. Our National President and the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Ajit Pawar, will be guiding us with his address. Over 50,000 people will be here and Ajit Pawar will guide us for the future.”

Meanwhile, NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Amol Ramsing Kolhe, told IANS, “Both are different parties, and each party is celebrating its own foundation day. I believe there is no need for anyone to have any problem with this.”

“However, respected Sharad Pawar is recognised across the country as the torchbearer of the ideology of Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar. That’s why, on the occasion of the Foundation Day, there is great enthusiasm among all workers and office-bearers to get Pawar Saheb’s guidance,” he said.

In Nagpur, NCP (SP) leader Ishwar Balbudhe echoed the sentiments of party workers who are caught between the two factions.

“Since the day the Nationalist Congress Party was founded, we have been working with it. But in the past couple of years, a lot has happened, and everyone has seen it. What is needed now is for both leaders to come together, because it’s the grassroots workers who are struggling,” he told IANS.

“The upcoming local body elections will see party workers fighting on the ground. If everyone fights separately, the first conflict will be between workers of the same party — NCP workers fighting among themselves, Shiv Sena workers fighting each other,” Balbudhe added.

In a gesture symbolising unity, local leaders in Nagpur had even put up posters featuring both Ajit and Sharad Pawar, hoping for a reunion.

NCP (SP) Pune city President and former Pune Mayor Prashant Jagtap paid glowing tributes to the senior Pawar, telling IANS, “Leaders like Sharad Pawar are not born to retire. Over the past 67 years, from forming the party to uplifting people and driving development across Maharashtra and the country, he has contributed immensely in every sector. I believe Sharad Pawar can never retire — he was born solely for the progress of Maharashtra and the nation.”

–IANS

sd/rad

Kerala HC Advocates’ Association demands transfer of Justice Badharudeen

Kochi, March 10 (IANS) The Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA), in a special meeting held on Monday, passed a resolution demanding the transfer of Justice A. Badharudeen out of the state.

The controversy arose after an incident that happened early this month involving a lady advocate who sought additional time to change the vakalath, as her husband, advocate Alex M. Scaria, had passed away in January.

Justice Badharudeen allegedly responded curtly, leaving the advocate in tears, which led to widespread outrage among KHCAA members.

On Friday, the association called for a boycott of the judge’s court and demanded a public apology.

In an attempt to defuse tensions, Chief Justice A.J. Thomas initiated conciliation talks, in which senior advocate George Poonthottam, who had led the boycott call, participated.

The Chief Justice also met the aggrieved lawyer, following which she wrote to KHCAA stating that the issue need not be pursued further. She wrote to KHCAA requesting that they call off all further steps that they might have been contemplating on this issue.

Subsequently, Justice Badharudeen expressed deep regret in the presence of the Chief Justice.

Despite this resolution, KHCAA president Yeshwanth Shenoy, who was not invited to the meeting with the Chief Justice, expressed his discontent in a letter to the association members.

He convened a special meeting on early Monday, where a resolution was passed to formally request the Chief Justice of India to transfer Justice Badharudeen out of Kerala.

While court proceedings resumed in Justice Badharudeen’s court on Monday, KHCAA decided to pass a resolution requesting his transfer.

Additionally, the Association decided to suspend and initiate disciplinary proceedings against Poonthottam for his role in the conciliation efforts. It also reiterated its demand for mandatory video recording of court proceedings.

–IANS

sg/skp