Maharashtra MLC Elections: BJP, allies win 9 out of 11 seats; Congress gets 1

In the Maharashtra legislative council election, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance—which comprises deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's NCP and chief minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena—won all nine seats it contested in the legislative council election, diminishing the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) hopes of cross-voting. Whereas, Congress has managed to secure victory on only 1 seat.

Pankaja Munde, the late prominent leader Gopinath Munde's daughter, was one of the five candidates put out by the BJP. Every single one of the five won. Both the NCP of Ajit Pawar and the Shinde Sena named two. Everybody four won.

Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar led the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, which consisted of the Congress, Sena, and NCP sections (shattered by Mr. Shinde and Mr. Pawar's rebellions) and fielded three candidates.

A 'semi-final' for the Maharashtra Assembly election later this year is the MLC poll.

Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister, celebrated right away by sharing a short message on X (previously Twitter). He said, "9/9," adding an emoji of a thumbs-up for impact.

Speaking to reporters after the results, Ajit Pawar said, "Five MLAs supported us, I thank them. When there are elections, allegations are made but I do not think about it..."

"Mahayuti should get such success in the Vidhan Sabha as well..." he declared.

Voting was held this morning for a total of 11 seats.

Given that MLCs are chosen indirectly—that is, by Assembly lawmakers—and that a party can only claim one legislative council seat if it has the necessary number of MLAs, in this case 23, the results were probably not shocking.

The BJP has fielded five candidates, its allies Shiv Sena and the NCP two each. The BJP candidates are Pankaja Munde, Yogesh Tilekar, Parinay Phuke, Amit Gorkhe, and Sadabhau Khot.Shiv Sena has fielded Krupal Tumane and Bhawana Gawl and NCP has fielded Rajesh Vitekar and Shivajirao Garje.