Did MVA really won and BJP lost in ZP polls?

BJP wins maximum seats

BJP lost Nagpur ZP to MVA, but bagged Dhule

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena (SS) – faced the recently conducted Zilla Parishad as an alliance. Though the MVA is celebrating the victory at Nagpur ZP as beginning of the end of BJP in the state, it is silent on the victory of the later at Dhule, the bastion of veteran leader Anil Gote, who is part of MVA. While the MVA is bursting crackers all over, following the results, the political war has ensued between MVA and BJP. Though both MVA and BJP are using the results to their advantage, the fact remains that they have failed miserably.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase in a tweet has said that it was answer by the people to the fascist ideology. “Defeat of BJP in the RSS homeland of Nagpur singles the end of fascist politics and dawn of development. I thank, the voters of Nagpur for showing BJP it’s place,” Tapase said in the tweet. Though the MVA is highlighting the victory at Nagpur, it is conveniently hiding the defeat in Dhule and also the fact that BJP has won maximum seats in the ZP elections.

“BJP has won 106 seats out of 332 in the six ZPs and 194 out of 664 Panchayat Samiti seats. We are the top party to win the seats. It is definitely commendable and I congratulate all the party workers and office bearers who worked hard during the elections,” said state unit chief of BJP Chandrakant Patil. Leader of Opposition in state Legislative Assembly Devendra Fadnavis, too has hailed the party workers for the performance.

The recently conducted ZP elections in six districts – Palghar, Dhule, Nagpur, Nandurbar, Akola and Washim – were crucial for both MVA and BJP as these were the first elections to be held after MVA came to power in the state amidst high level of uncertainty. It was acid test for the MVA, which has an unusual partner, Shiv Sena. If the outcome of the ZP elections is any indication, it appears that despite tall claims by leaders, the situation at grass root level is different. Despite contesting the elections as alliance, MVA could not make a mark as it was expected to, given the fact that Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena had joined hands against BJP.

Also Read: BJP loses RSS bastion Nagpur, four other Zilla Parishads

BJP has improved its tally in the six ZP elections to 106 while the strength of Congress and NCP has reduced. However, the experts feel that MVA should have performed better. “The outcome of ZP elections cannot be yardstick of performance of any political party. But at the same time, MVS had an edge over BJP because of the collective strength of three parties ruling the state. Since this didn’t happen, one can say that the alliance at state level has not impacted the grass root politics,” says Anay Joglekar, political analyst. He feels that BJP might have lost Nagpur ZP due to infighting and disturbed caste equations. “After Chandrashekhar Bawankule was denied Assembly ticket, Teli community in Vidarbha has been antagonised. It might have cost BJP,” he said.