The recently concluded civic body elections across Maharashtra's Marathwada region have painted a complex political picture, delivering a mixed bag of results for prominent leaders and parties. The polls, held on Sunday, saw significant victories, surprising defeats, and the emergence of new regional forces, setting the stage for future political realignments in the state.
Redemption and Resurgence in Beed District
One of the most closely watched contests was in Beed district's Parli town. Here, the alliance between the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a commanding victory, winning 25 out of the 35 corporator seats. Furthermore, an NCP candidate was elected as the municipal council president. This outcome marked a significant political comeback for local NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde.
Munde, who had resigned from his ministerial post after his aide Valmik Karad was named the prime accused in the Massajog sarpanch murder case, campaigned vigorously. He hailed the win as "a tight slap for all those who defamed my hometown." Following the results, Munde asserted that the outcome had "shown the opposition their place, and they should stay within their limits in the future."
In a related development from Parbhani's Gangakhed, Munde's sister, Urmila Kendre, secured the municipal council president's post. Her victory came despite a campaign that featured personal attacks on her brother. Meanwhile, BJP cabinet minister Pankaja Munde, who led her party's campaign in Beed, celebrated successes in Georai and Ambajogai alongside Parli. The BJP itself recorded its best-ever performance in the Beed Municipal Council, winning 15 corporator seats, though it narrowly lost the president's post.
A Split Verdict Across the Region
The electoral story varied across different districts, highlighting the fragmented nature of the verdict. In Nanded district, the BJP prevailed in councils like Bhokar, Kundalwadi, and Mudkhed but underperformed in other areas. Its rival NCP managed to win three councils, while the Shiv Sena and Congress secured two each. Notably, the newly formed Marathwada Janhit Party won two councils, and the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction secured one.
Former chief minister Ashok Chavan, whose leadership came under scrutiny after the BJP's defeat in the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, commented on the lack of coordination. "We need to get details for every poll. The respective local party MLAs were given the responsibility of elections in their areas. We all will meet soon," he said, while expressing general satisfaction with the outcomes. Santosh Kulkarni, elected president of the Biloli civic body for the Marathwada Janhit Party, stated his readiness to work under Chavan's leadership.
In other key battles, BJP defeated Shiv Sena in Parbhani's Jintur, with credit going to minister of state Meghana Bordikar. In Hingoli district, Sena MLA Santosh Bangar secured victories at Hingoli and Kalamnuri, and his sister-in-law Rekha became the president of the Hingoli Municipal Council.
Setbacks and Surprises for Sitting Legislators
The polls also revealed the limited influence of some sitting MLAs in their own backyards. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, BJP MLAs Prashant Bamb (Gangapur) and Anuradha Chavan (Phulambri) failed to sway the results in their favour. Meanwhile, Sillod Sena MLA Abdul Sattar and Paithan MLA Vilas Bhumare each managed to secure one council. Of the seven councils in this district, Sena and Congress won two each, while NCP, BJP, and Sena (UBT) claimed one apiece.
In Latur district, the BJP clinched four municipal council presidencies. However, the NCP triumphed at Ausa, which is the constituency of BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar, indicating local anti-incumbency or strategic voting patterns.
Overall, the Marathwada civic polls have underscored the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of grassroots politics in Maharashtra. The results serve as a crucial indicator of public sentiment ahead of larger electoral battles, with established leaders facing both redemption and challenge, and new regional entities carving out their space.
