BJP steals show in Sambhajinagar, Nanded & Jalna; Congress-Sena (UBT) register surprise win in Parbhani

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: BJP emerged victorious in municipal corporation polls for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded and Jalna in Marathwada, while Shiv Sena (UBT)-Congress combine registered a surprise victory in Parbhani.In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, after failed talks with its Mahayuti partner Shiv Sena, BJP fought alone and won 57 out of 115 seats, almost reaching the magic figure required to come into power on its own. The AIMIM improved its tally from 22 last time to 33 and again emerged as the second-largest party. While the undivided Sena was the single largest party after the last municipal polls, the Shinde and Thackeray factions of Sena won 13 and six seats, respectively.BJP cabinet minister Atul Save said people of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar voted his party to a sole majority by trusting the leadership and vision of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. "The city is an industrial, heritage and educational hub, and we will ensure its speedy development," he said.In Parbhani, Sena (UBT) had an alliance with Congress, while BJP and Shiv Sena failed to forge such ties despite multiple rounds of talks. In the House of 65 corporators for the local civic body, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 25 seats and Congress 12, together crossing the halfway mark. On the other hand, BJP won only 12 seats, while Sena failed to open its account. While both factions of NCP came together in Parbhani, the Ajit Pawar-led faction won 11 seats, while the Sharad Pawar-led faction won none.Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare said people of Parbhani have always stood behind us. "Like many other places, Parbhani saw a battle between money power versus people's power, and the latter won," she said.In Nanded, similar to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, polls for the municipal corporation saw Sena breaking an alliance with BJP. BJP won around 45 out of 81 seats in Nanded and comfortably reached the majority mark, while Sena won only four seats. Congress bagged about 10 seats among other parties.BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Chavan said the credit of the victory goes to the leadership and development carried out by PM Narendra Modi and CM Fadnavis. "People of Nanded voted for development. The opponents had no agenda and only indulged in mud-slinging," he said.In maiden elections for the Jalna Municipal Corporation, BJP had a cakewalk, with the party winning around 41 out of 65 seats, while Sena won only 12. Among other parties, Congress won nine seats, while AIMIM bagged two seats.