The ruling Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have weathered the challenge posed by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and a united campaign by Oppo-sition parties against the government and its policies winning a large number of seats in municipality polls here.
Of the 95 municipalities, polling had taken place for 132 yesterday of which results were declared on Monday.
Former chief minister and a Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane was a major loser in his Sindhudurg district, where the NCP consolidated its position by increasing its seats. Congress leader Harshvardhan Patil managed to maintain his supremacy in Indapur near to the Baramati taluka of Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The Shiv Sena increased its presence in the Congress party's traditional bastion, Vidarbha.
Polling for the remaining municipalities are slated for December 13, 16 and 23.
The opposition parties had launched a united campaign against rising incidents of farmers suicides, higher payment for cotton and sugarcane, burgeoning mismatch between demand and supply of power and the government’s neglecting long-pending issues of civic bodies pertaining to financial support. However, the Congress and NCP succeeded to reach out to voters through well-planned campaign and by giving emphasis on development. They decided to fight in an alliance especially in parts of the Konkan and Marathwada have paid off as the alliance bagged more seats. While their move to fight separately especially in the co-operative rich western Maharashtra benefitted the duo. Interestingly, the Hazare factor did not work as the voters preferred development over corruption.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won in parts of Konkan and northern Maharashtra. It bagged nine seats in Khed municipality in Ratnagiri district which was the traditional bastion of Shiv Sena. Besides, an independent legislator Bharat Bhalke demolished the supremacy of NCP veteran Sudharak Paricharak in Pandharpur in southern Maharashtra. In Ratanagiri municipality, Shiv Sena-BJP alliance foiled Congress-NCP combine's attempts to come to power.
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State NCP president Madhukar Pichad told Business Standard: “Today's results show that NCP has succeeded its presence across the state and it is not restricted merely to western Maharashtra as claimed by critics.”
Today's results are also a birth day gift to NCP chief Sharad Pawar as voters have given a wholehearted support to Pawar's pro-development policies. We will continue our efforts to improve our strength in the state.:
A Congress minister, who did not want to be identified, said “All credit goes to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and state party chief Manikrao Thakre who worked hard for party's success in the state.
Besides, the results also prove that Congress will continue to be accepted by voters despite efforts to defame it."