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Counting of votes began on Monday morning in the election to 147 municipal councils and 17 nagar panchayats across 25 districts in Maharashtra, seen as a litmus test for the Devendra Fadnavis’ government. As many as 15,826 candidates are in the fray for 3,705 seats spread over the municipal councils and nagar panchayats, where voting was held yesterday in the first phase with around 70 per cent of the electorate exercising its franchise. [caption id=“attachment_3125344” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File photo. PTI[/caption] No nominations were received for Shirala Nagar Panchayat in Sangli district while 28 candidates were elected unopposed. Counting of votes began at 10 am. Polling was also held for municipal council presidents post in 147 places for which 1,013 candidates are in the race. The polls are being viewed as ‘mini’ Assembly election sand a test of popularity of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who led the BJP campaign to make inroads in the rural areas where Congress and NCP hold sway. This is for the first time that presidents of municipal councils will be elected directly by people. The second phase for elections to 14 municipal councils will be held on 14 December. Demonetisation, farm distress, improvement in rural infrastructure and caste tensions due to morcha by various communities in the run up to the polls were the main issues apart from local matters. While ruling alliance partners, BJP and Shiv Sena, had tied up for the polls, the opposition Congress and NCP didn’t formally announce any alliance. While BJP projected development as its main plank, during the campaign Fadnavis hailed the demonetisation move as a major attack on black money. The Congress highlighted the hardships being faced by the poor and common man due to demonetisation among other issues. In total, including Sunday’s phase, elections are being held for 212 civic bodies, comprising municipal councils and nagar panchayats, in four phases. The next rounds of voting are scheduled on 14 December, 18 December and 8 January.
Maharashtra municipal council polls as it happened: BJP wins big in first phase; Modi, Shah say victory for demonetisation
Counting of votes began on Monday morning in the election to 147 municipal councils and 17 nagar panchayats across 25 districts in Maharashtra, seen as a litmus test for the Devendra Fadnavis’ government.
 "Maharashtra municipal council polls as it happened: BJP wins big in first phase; Modi, Shah say victory for demonetisation")
CM Fadnavis thanks Modi, says result shows people with PM
Maharshtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis replied to Modi’s tweet, in which the prime minister congratulated hm for the resounding victory. In his tweet, Fadavis thanked Modi and said that the verdit is a proof that the people are with Modi’s policies.
Thanks Sir!
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 28, 2016
You inspired confidence in people that our Nation is transforming.Mandate shows Maharashtra is with your vision of transparency. https://t.co/ljVtcJ4Ewo
Amit Shah terms BJP’s victory a wake-up call for Opposition
With BJP emerging as a major gainer in Maharashtra local polls, party chief Amit Shah said the results should be a “wake-up call” for the opposition parties who were “trying to mislead” people on demonetisation.
Maharashtra result should be a wakeup call for opposition attempting to mislead people on #Demonetisation, a decision in national interest.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 28, 2016
Shiv Sena workers celebrate as BJP-Sena alliance cinches victory in local body polls
PM Modi congratulates Maharashtra Party Unit for the victory
PM Modi tweeted out his congratulation to the state party unit and thanked the people of Maharshtra for showing faith in the party.
I thank people of Maharashtra for placing their faith in BJP in local body polls. This is a win for pro-poor & development politics of BJP.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2016
I laud BJP Karyakartas, CM @Dev_Fadnavis & @raosahebdanve. Their grassroot level work ensured people place their valued trust in BJP.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2016
51 BJP candidates carry the day in first ever polls for municipal council presidents
According to a Firstpost correspondent, so far results for the post of presidents of municipal councils have been declared at 140 councils. BJP is maintaining its lead by cinching victory at 51 seats, Shiv Sena has bagged 24 seats, Congress has 21 seats, NCP stands at 19 seats while Others won at 25 seats.
Bharatiya Janata Party bags 851 seats
According to the latest tally obtained by Firstpost correspondent, BJP has managed to maintain its lead by bagging 851 seats, while Shiv Sena won 514 seats. Congress has won 643 seats, while NCP secured 638 seats. MNS has logged victory at 16 seats and CPM has won 12 seats. BSP has claimed 9 seats, Others have won on 708 seats.
Result on 3510 seats have been declared so far.
BJP-Shiv Sena spar over demonetisation
Though the BJP-Shiv Sena are alliance partners for the polls, the top leadership of the two parties continues to exchange jibes.
Recently, the two allies were at loggerheads over the demonetisation issue with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray criticising Centre’s move.
Even as counting was underway, Shiv Sena on Monday endorsed NCP MP Udayan Raje Bhosale’s warning that if the post-demonetisation situation fails to improve soon, “people will loot banks”.
“Demonetisation has angered the people of the country. The condition of the poor and working classes everywhere is pitiable,” Sena said in the party mouthpiece Saamana
The NCP, which is a key opponent of the Sena-BJP alliance, has made demonetisation one of the key issues in the local body elections.
With inputs from IANS
Results for 2501 seats declared, fresh tally shows BJP leading with 610 seats
Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 610 seats in the Municipal Council polls in Maharshtra while its ally Shiv Sena is has won 402 seats. Nationalist Congress Party is at the second position with 482 seats so far, while the Congress has secured 408 seats. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has so far managed to win 12 seats while the BSP has won 4 seats. Other Independant candidates have won 583 seats, according to ANI.
Maharashtra municipal council polls: Total seats declared 2501 (BJP 610, SS 402,NCP 482,INC 408,MNS 12,BSP 4,others- 583)
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2016
BJP wins all 6 posts of President of Municipal Council in Wardha district
According to the Maharashtra BJP’s Spokesperson Keshav Upadhye, the party has won all the 6 seats for the President of Municipal Council in Wardha district. The BJP leader put out a tweet announcing the result.
Wardha District:
— Keshav Upadhye (@keshavupadhye) November 28, 2016
BJP win all 6 out of 6 Municipal Council Presidential Election's with clear majority of seats.✌✌#mahavoted4bjp
BJP wins 40 seats for President of Municipal Councils
There are total 147 posts of municipal council president, of which results for 108 seats have been declared. The BJP is maintaining a lead by bagging the top job at 40 municipal councils while Shiv Sena has managed to win at 18 councils. Congress has won the presidentship at 17 municipal councils while NCP has secured 10 councils. Twenty three seats have gone to other Independent candidates.
This is for the first time that presidents of municipal councils will be elected directly by people.
BJP-Shiv Sena leading with 562 seats
Till now, results of 1,349 municipal council seats have been declared, according to BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye. The ruling BJP is leading with 334 seats while NCP is following close with 287 seats. BJP’s ally, Shiv Sena has bagged 228 seats while the Congress party has managed to win 201 seats. BJP’s spokesperson Keshav Upadhye tweeted out updates as the counting progressed.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has won 5 seats, BSP scored at 3 seats while other Independent candidates have won at 55 seats
70% voters turned out to cast their vote in the ‘mini Assembly elections’
In what is being seen as a litmus test for the ruling BJP government, around 70 percent polling was reported in elections to 147 municipal councils and 17 nagar
panchayats, which were held on Sunday in the backdrop of demonetisation of higher value currency notes.
The polls are being viewed as ‘mini’ Assembly elections and also a test for the Devendra Fadnavis’ government. This is for the first time that presidents of municipal councils will be elected directly by people.
Second phase on 14 December
The polls are being viewed as ‘mini’ Assembly elections and a test of popularity of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who led the BJP campaign to make inroads in the rural areas where Congress and NCP hold sway. This is for the first time that presidents of municipal councils will be elected directly by people. The second phase for elections to 14 municipal councils will be held on 14 December.
PTI
Counting begins for Maharashtra municipal council polls
Counting of votes began Monday morning in the election to 147 municipal councils and 17 nagar panchayats across 25 districts in Maharashtra, seen as a litmus test for the Devendra Fadnavis’ government.
As many as 15,826 candidates are in the fray for 3,705 seats spread over the municipal councils and nagar panchayats, where voting was held yesterday in the first phase with around 70 percent of the electorate exercising its franchise.
No nominations were received for Shirala Nagar Panchayat in Sangli district while 28 candidates were elected unopposed.
Counting of votes began at 10 am.
PTI
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