BJP Secures Commanding Lead in Marathwada Zilla Parishad Elections
In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the dominant force in the zilla parishad (ZP) elections across three key districts of the Marathwada region. The party secured leading positions in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, and Dharashiv, while the Indian National Congress maintained its stronghold in Latur district.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Pre-Poll Alliance Delivers Clear Majority
The pre-election alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena proved highly effective in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where the coalition partners secured a decisive majority by winning 44 out of the total 63 ZP seats. The opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) managed to claim nine seats, followed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with four seats. Congress and NCP (SP) each secured a single seat in the district.
BJP district president Sanjay Khambayate attributed this electoral success to the collective efforts of party workers and leaders. He emphasized that with BJP holding power at both the state and central government levels, the functioning of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Zilla Parishad would become more efficient and effective in addressing rural development needs.
Several Mahayuti alliance legislators played instrumental roles in ensuring victories within their respective constituencies. These included BJP members Prashant Bamb and Anuradha Chavan, along with Shiv Sena representatives Abdul Sattar and Vilas Bhumare, whose grassroots campaigning significantly contributed to the alliance's strong performance.
Parbhani and Dharashiv: BJP Maintains Electoral Edge
In Parbhani district, BJP demonstrated its organizational strength by winning 24 of the 54 available ZP seats. Shiv Sena secured five seats, while NCP claimed fifteen. Local political observers noted that BJP and Shiv Sena members in Parbhani are considering the possibility of forming a post-poll alliance to consolidate their position further.
Dharashiv district witnessed particularly intense electoral contests, with BJP emerging as the top-performing party by securing 19 of the 55 ZP seats. Shiv Sena followed with fifteen seats. Despite strong expectations for Shiv Sena (UBT), bolstered by the presence of its Member of Parliament Omraje Nimbalkar in the region, the party managed to win only seven seats.
Latur: Congress Continues Winning Streak
Congress maintained its political momentum in Latur district, continuing a strong electoral run that began with a sweeping victory in recent municipal corporation elections. The party secured 23 of the 59 ZP seats, emerging as the largest single party in the district. However, Congress fell short of achieving an outright majority in the zilla parishad.
Among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance partners, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) each won one seat. Independent candidates secured two seats, while the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) opened its account with one seat. BJP won eighteen seats in Latur and could potentially come to power in the ZP with support from Shiv Sena (six seats) and NCP (twelve seats) if Congress fails to mobilize sufficient backing from other parties.
Local Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh characterized the party's performance as a decisive mandate in their favor, noting that Congress had emerged as the largest party across the entire district in these local elections. The results reflect continuing political realignments and shifting alliances in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, with significant implications for rural governance and development priorities.
