Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party's resounding success in the recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections across Maharashtra is a direct reward from voters for the party's decade-long, development-focused governance and infrastructure push. He described the outcome as a historic mandate for the BJP and the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Unprecedented Numbers Reflect Public Trust
Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Fadnavis presented a detailed breakdown of the impressive results. The BJP emerged as the single largest party in local bodies statewide, securing a staggering 3,325 of the 6,952 councillor posts. This figure represents nearly 50% of the total seats and is more than double the party's 2016 tally of 1,602.
"I thank the people of Maharashtra for reposing trust in us and giving BJP and Mahayuti a record victory," Fadnavis stated. He added that the results perfectly matched his pre-poll assessment, where he had predicted the alliance would win about 75% of the municipal councils. The final tally saw the Mahayuti alliance clinching victory in 215 of the 288 municipal councils, which is 74.65%.
Alliance Strength and Grassroots Coordination
Fadnavis highlighted the alliance's cohesive performance, noting that as the Mahayuti, they won 4,331 of the 6,952 councillor seats, accounting for 62.30%. He thanked his deputies, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, stating that alliance partners delivered convincing victories in their respective areas.
He attributed the sweeping win to meticulous booth-level coordination and the proactive efforts of ministers and senior leaders across all regions—Vidarbha, Marathwada, North Maharashtra, Konkan, and western Maharashtra. "Every minister and senior leader was entrusted with responsibility, and they fulfilled it proactively," he said.
Focus on Development, Not Opposition Bashing
Reflecting on his unique campaign strategy, Fadnavis revealed that he deliberately avoided attacking opposition parties. Instead, his campaign sought votes purely on the plank of development, highlighting the BJP government's achievements over the past ten years and its future plans.
"I focused on infrastructure delivery and governance. This may be the first election where a sitting CM did not attack the opposition, and voters responded positively," he remarked, suggesting that this positive approach resonated with the electorate.
Looking Ahead and Addressing Setbacks
While celebrating the massive victory, Fadnavis also addressed the party's setback in Chandrapur. He assured that the party would introspect and strengthen its strategy ahead of the crucial municipal corporation polls scheduled for January 15.
Commenting on senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar's concerns, Fadnavis said the party would provide him full support to win the corporation polls. However, he disagreed with Mungantiwar's demand to close the door for outsiders, stating, "No party should do that. It should, however, check the credentials of outsiders before inducting them."
Fadnavis concluded by crediting the broader national sentiment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and acknowledged the guidance and support from central leaders like Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, and BJP working president Nitin Nabin. He dismissed opposition allegations of vote manipulation, stating that voters are tired of such excuses and that the results are a clear verdict on performance.
