Partners in the ruling Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi — Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress — won 58% of the 12,711 seats that went to polls on January 15. However, among all parties individually, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the highest number, with the Sena a close second. Results of all seats were not announced till late on Monday and a clear picture is expected by Tuesday. Here is a look at the key aspects of the polls:
• The Bharatiya Janata Party won about 2,600 gram panchayats (village councils), followed by the Sena (2,570), of the 11,800 panchayats whose results were declared late Monday evening.
• The NCP and Congress bagged 2,400 and 1,825 panchayats respectively, while local panels and independents won over 2,335.
• A total of 214,880 candidates were in the fray for 125,709 seats.
• At least 26,718 members in 1,665 panchayats were elected unopposed.
Also Read: Maharashtra gram panchayat polls: BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP claim victory
• Another 162 panchayats in Gadchiroli will go to the polls on January 20.
Village panchayat elections are not fought on party symbols
• The parties claim victory on the basis of the local panels formed by the candidates affiliated with them.
• Some of the panels at the local level claim their affiliations to more than one party.
{{/usCountry}}• Some of the panels at the local level claim their affiliations to more than one party.
{{/usCountry}}• Three ruling parties fought the elections separately.
• The BJP declared victory, but the MVA parties insisted that the number of panchayats won by them together was much higher.
• Of the 27,782 gram panchayats in the state, 14,432 were due for the elections last year.
• The elections were deferred because of the Covid-19 pandemic.