Despite Modi-Shah’s campaign, Parli’s voters rejected Pankaja Munde claim of being ‘CM in the mind of People’

A big question mark over MahaJanadesh Yatra led by Devendra Fadnavis

‘Mi Punha Yein, Mi Punha Yein, Mi Punha Yein’ (I will come back, I will come back, I will come back) was the argument of outgoing chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during his last speech in the assembly. He had reiterated these lines during his statewide MahaJanadesh Yatra before the state assembly polls. The verdict seems to have put a rider in his bid to make a comeback.

However, the outcome shows, voters from Marathwada, Western Maharashtra and part of North Maharashtra has dismissed Fadnavis as state leader by giving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Sena alliance slighter seats than seats in the outgoing assembly. At the same time, the Maharashtra voters have overthrown eight ministers of the MahaYuti (grand alliance) comprising the high profile Pankaja Munde from Parli in Beed district.

Pankaja Munde, daughter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde lost the election against her cousin brother Dhananjay Munde. Dhananjay is the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Upper Houser. Prime Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP’s national president Amit Shah had campaigned for Pankaja.

Pankaja, an ambitious leader was upset after 2014 assembly polls when Fadnavis was elected as Chief Ministerial candidate. She had indicated her intention to become the CM and said during a rally that she was the CM in the minds of People (Mi Lokanchya Manatil Mukhyamantri Ahe). She always remained in controversy over the alleged chikki scam and for her arrogance. Dhananjay, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) was the leader who exposed Pankaja over various scams. BJP tried to corner Dhananjay over his alleged controversial statement against Pankaja during poll campaign, however, it seems, voters of Parli stood behind Dhananjay and rejected the accusations of Pankaja and Suresh Dhas, another BJP leader from the Beed district.

The other BJP ministers who lost the elections including Dr Anil Bonde from Morshi in Amravati district, Prof Ram Shinde from Karjat-Jamkhded in Ahmednagar district, Bala Bhegade from Maval in Pune district and Parinay Fuke from Sakoli in Nagpur. Fuke is believed to be close confident of CM Fadnavis. He lost the election against Nana Patole of Congress.

Dr Bonde and Bhegade were inducted into state cabinet just three months ago before the assembly polls, whereas, Prof Shinde, a leader from Dhangar community was in the cabinet since the beginning. However, his portfolio as minister of state for Home (rural) was taken away from him after some controversy. He was elevated as cabinet minister and given portfolio of minister for Other Backward Class (OBC) ministry but failed to leave the impression over his ministry. Rohit Pawar, grand nephew of NCP president Sharad Pawar triumphed over Prof Shinde in Karjat-Jamkhed. Voters have adopted outsider to defeat non-performing minister.

Vijay Shivtare from Purandar in Pune district and Arjun Khotkar, five times legislator from Jalna and Jaydutt Kshirsagar from Beed are the Sena ministers who lost the election. Shivtare was cornered by opposition in Jal Yukt Shivar scam. Whereas, Khotkar is involved in a scam related to grabbing land of Agriculture Produce Market Committee. Social activist Preeti Sharma – Menon had exposed the scam against Khotkar. During Lok Sabha polls, Khotkar had raised a flag of rebellion against Raosaheb Danve, then BJP state president and sitting union minister of state. Kshirsagar, popularly known as Anna, had recently joined Sena before the polls, however, he was defeated by his nephew Sandeep, who was given supportive strength by the NCP in the district since past two years.