BJP sweeps Jalgaon, Sangli civic polls in Maharashtra

Mumbai: The BJP in Maharashtra trounced the Shiv Sena in the Jalgaon civic body polls, winning 57 of the 75 seats, and came up trumps in the Sangli municipal elections, bagging 41 out of the 78 seats.

The BJP, an ally of the Shiv Sena in the state and at the Centre, won 57 of the 75 seats in the Jalgaon Municipal Corporation (JMC).

Local strongman and Shiv Sena leader Suresh Jain’s Khandesh Vikas Agadhi (KVA), which ruled the JMC for several years, won only 13 seats. The KVA, a local outfit which contested the election on the Shiv Sena symbol this time, had 36 seats in the JMC.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) bagged three seats, while Independents won two seats.

The NCP, which had 11 corporators in the civic body, drew a blank. The Congress in Jalgaon failed to open its account for the second consecutive time.

The BJP also posted an impressive victory in the Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation, winning 41 seats in the 78-member House and ousting the Congress from power.

The elections to the two civic bodies were held on August 1 and counting of votes took place yesterday.