NAGPUR: Maharashtra’s local body elections kicked off vibrantly today, drawing long queues at polling booths statewide. BJP heavyweight Nitin Gadkari set the tone by asserting his party’s inevitable triumph, hours after casting his ballot.
‘This is a vote for progress and stability. BJP will form boards in most councils,’ Gadkari told reporters outside his Nagpur polling station. His remarks come amid intense campaigning by the ruling alliance, highlighting infrastructure achievements.
The day’s high-profile voters included CM Eknath Shinde, who sported a tricolor shawl while voting in Thane. Shiv Sena chief’s son Aaditya Thackeray and NCP’s Supriya Sule also participated, underscoring the personal stakes for legacy parties.
Covering 31 zilla parishads and municipal bodies, these polls pit BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP against Congress-NCP-SP alliances. Key battlegrounds like Ambernath and Bhiwandi see fierce rivalries, with defections adding drama.
By midday, turnout hovered around 28%, boosted by enthusiastic urban participation. Women voters, encouraged by special drives, formed a significant chunk. Poll officials managed crowds efficiently, though isolated protests over voter lists surfaced.
These elections serve as a litmus test for Mahayuti’s unity post the 2022 Shiv Sena split. Gadkari’s bold prediction hinges on anti-incumbency against MVA in cities plagued by potholes and flooding.
With counting slated for mid-week, parties are bracing for outcomes that could signal trends for 2024. For now, the ballot boxes tell the real story, as Maharashtra’s democracy unfolds.