After MLC poll setback, BJP-led Mahayuti in damage control mode

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urged restraint as the BJP began reviewing Mahayuti's Maharashtra MLC poll setback. The exercise will examine organisational shortcomings and coordination gaps within the alliance.

The electoral setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) polls has triggered damage control within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde asking Shiv Sena leaders to refrain from publicly targeting alliance partners and the BJP launching a review of its defeats.

In the polls conducted on October 23, opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won three of five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats, delivering a major blow to the ruling alliance.

Congress candidate Abhijeet Wanjari was declared the winner in the Nagpur Graduates' constituency after counting stretched for over 40 hours.

The victory was significant as Nagpur is home to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and the RSS headquarters.

Of the five Graduates' and Teachers' constituencies that went to polls, the MVA won three seats, while the BJP-led Mahayuti secured two.

In the wake of the setback, Shinde has called for a collective review of the alliance's performance, urging leaders to identify shortcomings, avoid repeating mistakes and ensure that internal disagreements do not benefit the opposition.

Local leaders have also been asked to submit detailed reports on the reasons behind the setbacks, which will be examined by the Mahayuti coordination committee.

Meanwhile, the BJP has initiated its own review exercise following its defeat in the Nagpur Graduates' constituency.

National general secretary BL Santhosh arrived in Pune to hold a review meeting with party MLAs and corporators to assess the reasons behind the electoral setbacks, including possible organisational shortcomings and coordination issues within the alliance.

Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the party would examine why it lost the Nagpur Graduates' seat and whether any Mahayuti partners had failed to campaign for alliance candidates, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

Bawankule, who was the BJP's election in-charge for Nagpur, took personal responsibility for the defeat and said the party would introspect to identify the shortcomings despite its efforts to reach voters.

"We tried hard and our party workers and leaders met the voters from the graduates' constituency. However, there seem to have been some shortcomings. We will introspect to understand the reasons for the defeat," he said.

The BJP had given importance to the Nagpur Graduates' and Pune seats and had planned extensively to win them, Bawankule said, adding that the party had accepted the results.

On whether the Shiv Sena had failed to support the BJP, he said the alliance would review the performance of its partners instead of engaging in a blame game.

"Instead of a blame game, we will review which partner of the Mahayuti did not work in favour of the alliance candidate," he said.

Bawankule also referred to the Amravati constituency, where Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had sought the BJP's support.

"Our MLAs and MPs went to Amravati and campaigned for their candidate. However, in some places, the alliance coordination could not be seen. The three Mahayuti partners will deliberate on this," he said.