The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) unconventional strategy of fielding a 'family pack' of six relatives in the Loha municipal council elections has ended in a comprehensive defeat. All six candidates, including the nominee for the council president's post, were voted out by the electorate in a significant setback for the party in the Nanded district of Maharashtra.
Complete Washout for Suryavanshi Clan
The vote counting for president and member posts across 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, which were held in two phases, commenced at 10 am on Sunday. In Loha, the results delivered a stark verdict against the BJP's dynastic approach. Gajanan Suryavanshi, the BJP's candidate for the council president's position, lost the election. His defeat was mirrored by five of his family members who were also contesting.
Officials confirmed that the losing candidates from the same family included his wife Godavari Suryavanshi, brother Sachin Suryavanshi, sister-in-law Supriya Suryavanshi, brother-in-law Yuvraj Waghmare, and nephew's wife Reena Vyavhare. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had previously criticized the BJP for promoting 'dynastic politics' in the Loha elections, a charge that seems to have resonated with voters.
NCP Emerges as Dominant Force in Loha
The president's post was clinched by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In an interesting twist, the winning candidate shares his name with the party's founder, Sharad Pawar. The NCP established a clear dominance in Loha, securing the top position and winning 17 council seats.
In contrast, the BJP, along with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, managed to secure just one seat each in the council. This result underscores a major shift in the local political landscape of Loha, with the NCP consolidating its power base effectively.
Mixed Results Across Nanded District
The electoral outcome across the wider Nanded district presented a fragmented picture, with no single party managing a clean sweep. The NCP secured control of councils in Loha, Kandhar, Degloor, and Umri. The BJP found victories in Kundalwadi, Mudkhed, and Bhokar.
The Shiv Sena and the Marathwada Janhit Party won two councils each, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress won one council each. Notably, in Kandhar, while a Congress candidate was elected president, the NCP emerged as the single largest party within that local body. Officials also noted that the NCP (SP) faction led by veteran leader Sharad Pawar failed to win control of any municipal council in the district.
This election has highlighted the volatile nature of Maharashtra's local politics and served as a cautionary tale against perceived nepotism, as demonstrated by the BJP's failed 'family pack' experiment in Loha.
