The Maharashtra Legislative Council results that came this morning have surprised everyone. A rebel BJP leader has created a political stir in the camps of Shiv Sena (Shinde) and BJP by registering a big victory in this election. In Mumbai, rebel BJP leader Gokul Geete on Monday won the local body constituency of Nashik district of Maharashtra Legislative Council by defeating ruling Shiv Sena candidate Narendra Darade. Maharashtra State Legislature elections were held on June 18 and counting was being done for 11 seats on Monday morning, the results of which came today.
After this result, election officials said that Gokul got 357 votes while Darade got 248 votes. Gokul's victory with such a huge vote is surprising everyone, because the ruling party candidate was expected to present a strong challenge.
Darade belongs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which has been in the news following the rebellion of six of the nine Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Two of these have confirmed joining the ruling Shiv Sena. He campaigned in the constituency along with several elected representatives for the election. After voting on behalf of Gokul, most of the local representatives left the Darade counting centre.
Controversy had erupted in Nashik constituency after Gokul announced his candidature against Darade. He had alleged that Darade had used abusive words against him. Gokul ran the election as an independent candidate against Darade, who was the official candidate of the retailing alliance. Which includes senior Mahayuti leader, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, BJP Minister Girish Mahajan and Shiv Sena Minister Uday Samant. He himself intervened to resolve the issue.
Gokul halted his election campaign, but his name was placed on the ballot because the deadline for withdrawal had passed. However, Gokul had said after the meeting with senior leaders that he would not continue his campaign. He clarified on Monday that he has only suspended his personal campaign, while his supporters can continue campaigning.
Biennial elections were initially notified for 17 seats, including one by-election, but voting became mandatory only in 11 assembly constituencies. Because the candidates of the Mahayukta alliance, which included BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde leadership) and Sunetra Pawar's NCP. He won 6 seats unopposed.
After this, BJP's Arun Lakhani from Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli and Prajakt Tanpure from Ahilyanagar, NCP candidate Vikram Kakade from Pune and Aniket Tatkare from Raigarh-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Shiv Sena candidate Ravindra Phatak from Thane and Dushyant Chaturvedi from Yavatmal were elected unopposed.
Tanpure had joined BJP shortly before filing nomination. The Ahilyanagar leader is the nephew of NCP leader Jayant Patil and has previously been a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The opposition MVA alleged that the ruling coalition had used money and force to withdraw rival candidates.
