The Mahayuti landslide in Maharashtra will leave the state assembly without a leader of opposition as no party outside the ruling alliance has been able to get the mandatory minimum 29 seats. As per data made available on the Election Commission website, the Shiv Sena (UBT), part of the opposition MVA, had won 17 seats and was leading on three.Results for 220 of the 288 seats had been declared as at 7pm on Saturday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Maharashtra for giving a "historic mandate" to the Mahayuti, which was on course for a big victory in the state. He said development and good governance won. "Development wins! Good governance wins! United we will soar even higher! Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtra’s progress. Jai Maharashtra!" he tweeted.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took a dig at the Opposition, who questioned the efficiency of EVMs, after the Maha Vikas Aghadi's embarrassing defeat in the state. "Were the EVMs in Jharkhand and Karnataka not working? After winning, they say that EVMs are working. The Election Commissioner is good. They even gave advice to the Supreme Court. The results that come in their favour are good. Recently, they even raised objections on the voter list," Shinde said.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan lost to BJP's Atulbaba Bhosale from Karad South by a margin of 39,355 votes.Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, an MLA from Sangamner since 1985, has lost to Shiv Sena's Amol Khatal by a margin of 10,560 votes.Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil has retained Islampur seat in Sangli district with a victory margin of 13,027 votes, defeating NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction candidate Nishikant Bhosale-Patil.
Uddhav Thackeray speaks after the horrific rout in the Maharashtra polls. "Don't understand the Mahayuti tsunami. It seems there is just one election, one party. What did the Mahayuti do to get this tsunami. No one call ladki bahin a jumla. All over Maharashtra farmers are unhappy and women are unsafe. Maharashtra results are completely unexpected and incomprehensible. We will keep fighting for the rights of Maharashtra."
The Congress described the Maharashtra poll outcome as 'inexplicable' and claimed that the level-playing field was disturbed in a targeted manner as part of a conspiracy to defeat it."The Maharashtra outcome has been brought out through a targeted conspiracy after the level-playing field was disturbed in the state to defeat the Congress... Our morale is not down and we will strengthen the organisation and analyse the results," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said at a press conference.
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